List of earthquakes in 1948

This is a list of earthquakes in 1948. 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. This would go down as one of the deadliest years of the 20th century. The main factor behind this was the earthquake which struck Turkmenistan that left 110,000 people dead in early October. This was the deadliest single earthquake since 1923 when a great quake struck Tokyo. Other events during the year caused many deaths including one in Japan in June which resulted in over 5,000 deaths. The number of magnitude 7.0+ events (18) was around normal with the biggest event being in the Philippines measuring 7.8. Clusters of large events were reported in Latin America and the southwest Pacific particularly Fiji in the early part of the year.

Earthquakes in 1948
Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1948
Strongest magnitude Panay, Philippines (Magnitude 7.8) January 24
Deadliest north of Ashgabat, Soviet Union (Magnitude 7.3) October 5 110,000 deaths
Total fatalities116,184
Number by magnitude
9.0+0
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.918
6.0−6.931
5.0−5.91
← 1947
1949 →

Overall

By death toll
Rank Death toll Magnitude Location Depth (km) Date
1 110,000 7.3 north of Ashgabat, Soviet Union 15.0 October 5
2 3,769 6.8 Fukui Prefecture, Honshu, Japan 10.0 June 28
3 800 7.1 Sichuan Province, China 55.0 May 25
4 110 6.8 Yunnan Province, China 0.0 June 27
5 74 7.8 Panay, Philippines 15.0 January 24
  • Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude
Rank Magnitude Death toll Location Depth (km) Date
1 7.8 74 Panay, Philippines 15.0 January 24
2 7.5 0 Tonga 15.0 September 8
3 7.3 0 Karpathos, Greece 15.0 February 9
3 7.3 110,000 north of Ashgabat, Soviet Union 15.0 October 5
4 7.2 0 Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia 170.0 February 9
4 7.2 0 off the south coast of Honshu, Japan 15.0 April 17
5 7.1 0 Fiji 595.0 January 27
5 7.1 0 northeast of Buru, Indonesia 15.0 March 1
5 7.1 0 south of Alaska Peninsula 25.0 May 14
5 7.1 800 Sichuan Province, China 55.0 May 25
6 7.0 0 Fiji 581.6 January 4
6 7.0 0 Fiji 143.6 January 22
6 7.0 0 northwest of Luzon, Philippines 15.0 March 3
6 7.0 4 Lima Region, Peru 51.2 May 28
6 7.0 0 Salta Province, Argentina 30.0 August 25
6 7.0 0 Dinagat Island, Philippines 100.0 September 2
6 7.0 0 San Jose Province, Costa Rica 38.5 November 19
6 7.0 0 Antofagasta Region, Chile 100.0 December 26
  • Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Fiji on January 4 at a depth of 581.6 km.[1]
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on January 6 at a depth of 30.0 km.[2]
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Fiji on January 22 at a depth of 143.6 km.[3]
  • A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Panay, Philippines on January 24 at a depth of 15.0 km. Seventy-four people in all were killed including two by a tsunami. Many homes were destroyed or damaged. Property damage costs reached $3.5 million (1948 rate).[4][5][6]
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Fiji on January 27 at a depth of 595.0 km. This was the third magnitude 7.0+ quake to hit Fiji this month.[7]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on January 28 at a depth of 15.0 km.[8]

February

March
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck northeast of Buru, Indonesia on March 1 at a depth of 15.0 km.[13]
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck northwest of Luzon, Philippines on March 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.[14]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on March 13 at a depth of 15.0 km.[15]

April
  • A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the south coast of Honshu, Japan on April 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.[16]
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Samana Province, Dominican Republic on April 21 at a depth of 15.0 km.[17]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Ionian Islands (region), Greece on April 22 at a depth of 15.0 km.[18] 2 deaths and 45 injuries were caused. Damage was heavy with 244 homes collapsing and 2,022 being damaged.[19]

May
  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southeast of Kyushu, Japan on May 9 at a depth of 25.0 km.[20]
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Tacna Region, Peru on May 11 at a depth of 58.7 km. One person died and some damage was caused.[21][22]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on May 12 at a depth of 20.0 km.[23]
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck south of the Alaska Peninsula on May 14 at a depth of 25.0 km.[24]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Canterbury, New Zealand on May 22 at a depth of 15.0 km.[25]
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China on May 25 at a depth of 55.0 km. Eight-hundred people were killed, another 200 were hurt, and 600 homes collapsed.[26][27]
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru on May 28 at a depth of 51.2 km.[28] Four people died and some damage was caused.[29]

June
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the north coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on June 2 at an unknown depth.[30]
  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Wakayama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on June 15 at a depth of 24.4 km.[31]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on June 27 at an unknown depth. One-hundred and ten people were killed, a further 100 were hurt, and 600 homes were destroyed.[32]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Fukui Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on June 28 at a depth of 10.0 km. Property damage was estimated at $1 billion (1948 rate), with 5,131 deaths as well as 11,000 injuries. About 63,000 homes were wrecked and 18,543 were damaged.[33][34]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Samoa on June 29 at a depth of 35.0 km.[35]
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Dagestan Republic, Russia on June 29 at a depth of 35.0 km.[36]
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the west coast of Epirus (region), Greece on June 30 at a depth of 15.0 km. Six people were killed and some damage was caused.[37][38]

July
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the south coast of Honshu, Japan on July 7 at a depth of 15.0 km.[39]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of southern Peru on July 20 at a depth of 30.0 km.[40]

August

September

October
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on October 4 at a depth of 15.0 km.[47]
  • A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck just north of Ashgabat, Soviet Union (now Turkmenistan) on October 5 at a depth of 15.0 km. This quake was particularly destructive as it struck close to the capitol. In all 110,000 people died and many (at least 1,001) were hurt. The city was almost destroyed with property damage reaching $25 million (1948 rate).[48][49]
  • A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Guizhou Province, China on October 8 at an unknown depth. Three people died and 75 were injured. Many homes were damaged or destroyed.[50]
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on October 28 at a depth of 65.0 km.[51]

November
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck San Jose Province, Costa Rica on November 19 at a depth of 38.5 km.[52]
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Vanuatu on November 21 at a depth of 174.5 km.[53]
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Madang Province, Papua New Guinea on November 26 at a depth of 54.9 km.[54]

December

References
  1. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 4, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  2. "M6.4 - Guerrero, Mexico". United States Geological Survey. January 6, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  3. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 22, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  4. "M7.8 - Panay, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. January 24, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  5. "Significant Earthquake PHILIPPINES: PANAY, ILOILO CITY, ANTIQUE". National Geophysical Data Center. January 24, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  6. "Tsunami Event SULU SEA". National Geophysical Data Center. January 24, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  7. "M7.1 - Fiji region". United States Geological Survey. January 27, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  8. "M6.5 - Molucca Sea". United States Geological Survey. January 28, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  9. "M7.3 - Dodecanese Islands, Greece". United States Geological Survey. February 9, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  10. "Tsunami Event DODECANESE, KARPATHOS IS". National Geophysical Data Center. February 9, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  11. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. February 9, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  12. "M6.3 - Xinjiang-Xizang border region". United States Geological Survey. February 13, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  13. "M7.1 - Seram, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. March 1, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  14. "M7.1 - Seram, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. March 3, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  15. "M6.5 - Molucca Sea". United States Geological Survey. March 13, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  16. "M7.2 - near the south coast of western Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. April 17, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  17. "M6.9 - Dominican Republic". United States Geological Survey. April 21, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  18. "M6.5 - Greece". United States Geological Survey. April 22, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  19. "Significant Earthquake GREECE: VASILIKI (LEUKAS)". National Geophysical Data Center. April 22, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  20. "M6.7 - Kyushu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. May 9, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  21. "M6.6 - southern Peru". United States Geological Survey. May 11, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  22. "Significant Earthquake PERU: AREQUIPA,MOQUEGUA,TACNA,TORATA,QUELLAVECO". National Geophysical Data Center. May 11, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  23. "M6.8 - off the east coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. May 12, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  24. "M7.1 - Alaska Peninsula". United States Geological Survey. May 14, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  25. "M6.5 - South Island of New Zealand". United States Geological Survey. May 22, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  26. "M7.1 - western Sichuan, China". United States Geological Survey. May 25, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  27. "Significant Earthquake CHINA: SICHUAN PROVINCE". National Geophysical Data Center. May 25, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  28. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. May 28, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  29. "Significant Earthquake PERU: CANETE". National Geophysical Data Center. May 28, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  30. "Significant Earthquake INDONESIA: OFF NORTHWEST COAST". National Geophysical Data Center. June 2, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  31. "M6.7 - near the south coast of western Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. June 15, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  32. "Significant Earthquake CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE". National Geophysical Data Center. June 27, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  33. "M6.8 - near the west coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. June 28, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  34. "Significant Earthquake JAPAN: FUKUI". National Geophysical Data Center. June 28, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  35. "M6.5 - Samoa Islands region". United States Geological Survey. June 29, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  36. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. June 29, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  37. "M6.4 - Greece". United States Geological Survey. June 30, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  38. "Significant Earthquake GREECE: TSOUKALADES-KALAMITSI (LEUKAS)". National Geophysical Data Center. June 30, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  39. "M6.4 - near the south coast of western Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. July 7, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  40. "M6.5 - near the coast of southern Peru". United States Geological Survey. July 20, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  41. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 11, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  42. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 19, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  43. "M7.0 - Salta, Argentina". United States Geological Survey. August 25, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  44. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 2, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  45. "M7.5 - Tonga". United States Geological Survey. September 8, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  46. "M6.8 - Kuril Islands". United States Geological Survey. September 10, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  47. "M6.3 - Taiwan region". United States Geological Survey. October 4, 1948. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  48. "M7.3 - Turkmenistan". United States Geological Survey. October 5, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  49. "Significant Earthquake TURKMENISTAN: ASHKHABAD". National Geophysical Data Center. October 5, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  50. "Significant Earthquake CHINA: GUIZHOU PROVINCE". National Geophysical Data Center. October 8, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  51. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 28, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  52. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. November 19, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  53. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. November 21, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  54. "M6.6 - New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. November 26, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  55. "M6.7 - off the coast of Nayarit, Mexico". United States Geological Survey. December 4, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  56. "Significant Earthquake MEXICO: MARIA MADRE ISLAND". National Geophysical Data Center. December 4, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  57. "M 6.0 - 16km E of Desert Hot Springs, CA". United States Geological Survey. December 4, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  58. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. December 15, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  59. "M6.5 - Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia region". United States Geological Survey. December 23, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  60. "Significant Earthquake CHILE: ANTOFAGASTA". National Geophysical Data Center. December 26, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  61. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. December 29, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
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