List of earthquakes in 1946

This is a list of earthquakes in 1946. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury or damage. Events which occurred in remote areas will be excluded from the list as they wouldn't have generated significant media interest. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Several great shocks affected the planet in 1946. The largest was one of the most significant in human terms. The quake itself was a magnitude 8.6 striking on April 1 in Alaska resulting in a tsunami mainly affecting Hawaii. The consequence of this apart from many deaths was the foundation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. This organisation has helped to substantially reduce the death toll of tsunamis in the Pacific, although there have been a few exceptions, including the 2011 Japan event. Japan itself was heavily affected in 1946 by a large quake hitting in December, causing 1,362 deaths. The Dominican Republic was another nation that suffered great destruction in August. Turkey, Peru, and Turkmenistan all saw earthquakes causing many deaths. In general, 1946 was a busy year, with 21 events measuring above 7.0 and three exceeding a magnitude of 8.0.

Earthquakes in 1946
Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1946
Strongest magnitude south of Unimak Island, Alaska (Magnitude 8.6) April 1
Deadliest Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic (Magnitude 7.5) August 4 1,790 deaths
Total fatalities5,773
Number by magnitude
9.0+0
8.0−8.93
7.0−7.918
6.0−6.947
5.0−5.91
← 1945
1947 →

Overall

By death toll
Rank Death toll Magnitude Location Depth (km) Date
1 1,790 7.5 Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic 15.0 August 4
2 1,362 8.3 off the south coast of Honshu, Japan 15.0 December 20
3 840 6.0 Erzurum Province, Turkey 35.0 May 31
4 800 6.8 Ancash Region, Peru 15.0 November 10
5 400 6.9 Balkan Region, Turkmenistan 37.9 November 4
6 264 6.0 Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria 35.0 February 12
7 167 8.6 south of Unimak Island, Alaska 15.0 April 1
8 75 7.0 off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic 15.0 August 8
9 58 6.6 north of Taiwan 25.0 December 4
10 12 5.6 Konya Province, Turkey 60.0 February 21
  • Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude
Rank Magnitude Death toll Location Depth (km) Date
1 8.6 167 south of Unimak Island, Alaska 15.0 April 1
2 8.3 1,362 off the south coast of Honshu, Japan 15.0 December 20
3 8.0 0 Sagaing Region, Burma 15.0 September 12
4 7.8 0 Sagaing Region, Burma 15.0 September 12
4 7.8 0 southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea 50.0 September 29
5 7.5 0 Vancouver Island, Canada 15.0 June 23
5 7.5 1,790 Samaná Bay, Dominican Republic 15.0 August 4
5 7.5 0 Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan 25.0 November 2
6 7.3 0 Mentawai Islands, Indonesia 35.0 May 8
7 7.2 0 Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea 95.0 January 17
7 7.2 0 Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina 573.6 August 28
7 7.2 0 Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea 110.0 September 23
8 7.1 0 Oaxaca, Mexico 109.9 June 7
8 7.1 0 Veracruz, Mexico 117.8 July 11
9 7.0 0 Vanuatu 35.0 January 20
9 7.0 0 Vanuatu 175.4 July 9
9 7.0 75 off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic 15.0 August 8
9 7.0 0 south of Fiji 84.1 August 21
9 7.0 0 south of Fiji 588.4 September 26
9 7.0 0 La Altagracia Province, Dominican Republic 50.0 October 4
9 7.0 0 Andreanof Islands, Alaska 25.0 November 1
  • Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Quiché Department, Guatemala on January 5 at a depth of 210.0 km.[1]
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Vanuatu on January 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.[2]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Heilongjiang Province, China on January 11 at a depth of 581.2 km.[3]
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Gulf of Alaska on January 12 at a depth of 20.0 km.[4]
  • A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on January 17 at a depth of 95.0 km.[5]
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Vanuatu on January 20 at a depth of 35.0 km.[6]
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Canton of Bern, Switzerland on January 25 at a depth of 35.0 km. This was a rare large quake for the area.[7]

February

March
  • An earthquake struck Bushehr Province, Iran on March 12. The magnitude and depth were unknown. Heavy damage was reported.[15]
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck central California on March 15 at a depth of 6.0 km.[16]
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southeast of Cuba on March 25 at a depth of 35.0 km.[17]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Bengkulu (city), Sumatra, Indonesia on March 26 at a depth of 45.0 km.[18]

April

May

June

July

August

September
  • A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck Sagaing Region, Burma on September 12 at a depth of 15.0 km.[51]
  • A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sagaing Region, Burma on September 12 at a depth of 15.0 km. This quake came only three minutes after the previous event and can be considered a large aftershock.[52]
  • A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on September 23 at a depth of 110.0 km.[53]
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck south of Fiji on September 26 at a depth of 588.4 km.[54]
  • A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on September 29 at a depth of 50.0 km.[55]
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Ica Region, Peru on September 30 at a depth of 53.0 km.[56] Many homes sustained damage.[57]

October

November
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on November 1 at a depth of 25.0 km.[66]
  • A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan on November 2 at a depth of 25.0 km.[67] Surprisingly in spite of the size no deaths were reported. However some damage was caused.[68]
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Balkan Region, Turkmenistan on November 4 at a depth of 37.9 km. Four-hundred people were killed and major damage was caused.[69][70]
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck western Xizang, China on November 6 at a depth of 25.0 km.[71]
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck San Juan Province, Argentina on November 10 at a depth of 120.0 km.[72]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Ancash Region, Peru on November 10 at a depth of 15.0 km. Eight-hundred people were killed and major damage was reported.[73][74]
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Tonga on November 12 at a depth of 15.0 km.[75]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on November 17 at a depth of 100.0 km.[76]
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Tonga on November 28 at a depth of 265.0 km.[77]

December
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck north of Taiwan on December 4 at a depth of 25.0 km. Fifty-eight people were killed, 384 were injured, and 700 homes collapsed.[78][79]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Fiji on December 17 at a depth of 580.0 km.[80]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck east of Taiwan on December 19 at a depth of 98.0 km.[81]
  • A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck off the south coast of Honshu, Japan on December 20 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was one of the largest quakes to hit Japan. This came two years after a similar magnitude quake in the same area. The south coast of Honshu is vulnerable to Nankai megathrust earthquakes. In this event 1,362 people were killed and 14,259 homes were destroyed. A tsunami washed the shoreline contributing to the devastation.[82][83][84]
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck east of the Kuril Islands, Russia on December 21 at a depth of 20.0 km.[85]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Rat Islands, Alaska on December 25 at a depth of 90.0 km.[86]

References
  1. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 5, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  2. "M6.9 - Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. January 5, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  3. "M6.8 - Heilongjiang, China". United States Geological Survey. January 11, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  4. "M6.6 - Kenai Peninsula, Alaska". United States Geological Survey. January 12, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  5. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 17, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  6. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 20, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  7. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 25, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  8. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. February 4, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  9. "Significant Earthquake IRAN: GIV (SE BIRJAND)". National Geophysical Data Center. February 10, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  10. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. February 12, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  11. "Significant Earthquake ALGERIA: HODNA MOUNTAINS". National Geophysical Data Center. February 12, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  12. "Significant Earthquake TURKEY: IIGIN, KONYA". National Geophysical Data Center. February 21, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  13. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. February 22, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  14. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. February 27, 1946. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  15. "Significant Earthquake IRAN: KAZERUN". National Geophysical Data Center. March 12, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  16. "M6.3 - 13km WNW of Inyokern, CA". United States Geological Survey. March 15, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  17. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. March 25, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  18. "M6.8 - southern Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. March 26, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  19. "M8.6 - south of Alaska". United States Geological Survey. April 1, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  20. "Tsunami Event UNIMAK ISLAND, AK". National Geophysical Data Center. April 1, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  21. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. April 5, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  22. "M6.9 - New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. May 3, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  23. "M7.3 - southern Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. May 8, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  24. "M6.3 - Martinique region, Windward Islands". United States Geological Survey. May 21, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  25. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. May 31, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  26. "Significant Earthquake TURKEY: USTUKRAN". National Geophysical Data Center. May 31, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  27. "M6.3 - Taiwan region". United States Geological Survey. June 2, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  28. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 7, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  29. "M6.4 - Ceram Sea, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. June 15, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  30. "M7.5 - Vancouver Island, Canada region". United States Geological Survey. June 23, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  31. "Significant Earthquake BRITISH COLUMBIA". National Geophysical Data Center. June 23, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  32. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 24, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  33. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 24, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  34. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 26, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  35. "M6.5 - South Island of New Zealand". United States Geological Survey. June 26, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  36. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 28, 1946. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  37. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 9, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  38. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 11, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  39. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 12, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  40. "M6.3 - near the coast of Tarapaca, Chile". United States Geological Survey. July 26, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  41. "M6.9 - Atacama, Chile". United States Geological Survey. August 2, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  42. "Significant Earthquake CHILE: NORTHERN". National Geophysical Data Center. August 2, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  43. "M7.5 - Dominican Republic region". United States Geological Survey. August 4, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  44. "Significant Earthquake DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: NORTHEASTERN COAST". National Geophysical Data Center. August 4, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  45. "Tsunami Event NORTHEASTERN COAST". National Geophysical Data Center. August 4, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  46. "M7.0 - Dominican Republic region". United States Geological Survey. August 8, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  47. "Tsunami Event NORTHEASTERN COAST". National Geophysical Data Center. August 8, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  48. "M6.5 - Solomon Islands". United States Geological Survey. August 11, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  49. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 21, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  50. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 21, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  51. "M8.0 - Myanmar". United States Geological Survey. September 12, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  52. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 12, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  53. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 23, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  54. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 26, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  55. "M7.8 - New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. September 29, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  56. "M6.1 - central Peru". United States Geological Survey. September 30, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  57. "Significant Earthquake PERU: PISCO". National Geophysical Data Center. September 30, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  58. "M6.5 - near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia". United States Geological Survey. October 2, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  59. "M6.3 - near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia". United States Geological Survey. October 2, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  60. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 4, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  61. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 8, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  62. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 13, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  63. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 22, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  64. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 25, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  65. "M6.5 - Unimak Island region, Alaska". United States Geological Survey. October 30, 1946. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  66. "M7.0 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska". United States Geological Survey. November 1, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  67. "M7.5 - Kyrgyzstan". United States Geological Survey. November 2, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  68. "Significant Earthquake KYRGYZSTAN". National Geophysical Data Center. November 2, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  69. "M6.9 - Turkmenistan". United States Geological Survey. November 4, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  70. "Significant Earthquake TURKMENISTAN". National Geophysical Data Center. November 4, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  71. "M6.4 - western Xizang". United States Geological Survey. November 6, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  72. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. November 10, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  73. "M6.8 - central Peru". United States Geological Survey. November 10, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  74. "Significant Earthquake PERU: JOCAIBAMBA,CERRO ANGASCHAJ,CERRO SILLAPATA". National Geophysical Data Center. November 10, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  75. "M6.9 - Tonga". United States Geological Survey. November 12, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  76. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. November 17, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  77. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. November 28, 1946. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  78. "M6.6 - Taiwan region". United States Geological Survey. December 4, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  79. "Significant Earthquake TAIWAN". National Geophysical Data Center. December 4, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  80. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. December 17, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  81. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. December 19, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  82. "M8.3 - near the south coast of western Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. December 20, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  83. "Significant Earthquake JAPAN: HONSHU: S COAST". National Geophysical Data Center. December 20, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  84. "Tsunami Event HONSHU: S COAST". National Geophysical Data Center. December 20, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  85. "M6.9 - east of the Kuril Islands". United States Geological Survey. December 21, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
  86. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. December 25, 1946. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
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