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 Philippines, Panay (Magnitude 7.8) January 24
Deadliest Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, north of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (Magnitude 7.3) October 5 110,000 deaths
Total fatalities116,135
Number by magnitude
9.0+0
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.918
6.0−6.932
5.0−5.91
← 1947
1949 →

Overall

By death toll
Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date
1 110,000 7.3  Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, north of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan X (Extreme) 15.0 October 5
2 5,131 6.8  Japan, Fukui Prefecture, Honshu VII (Very strong) 10.0 June 28
3 800 7.1  Republic of China (1912-1949), Sichuan Province X (Extreme) 55.0 May 25
4 110 6.8  Republic of China (1912-1949), Yunnan Province VIII (Severe) 0.0 June 27
5 74 7.8  Philippines, Panay IX (Violent) 15.0 January 24
  • Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude
Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date
1 7.8 74  Philippines, Panay IX (Violent) 15.0 January 24
2 7.5 0  Tonga V (Moderate) 15.0 September 8
= 3 7.3 0  Greece, Karpathos X (Extreme) 15.0 February 9
= 3 7.3 110,000  Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, north of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan X (Extreme) 15.0 October 5
= 4 7.2 0  Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini ( ) 170.0 February 9
= 4 7.2 0  Japan, off the south coast of Honshu VII (Very strong) 15.0 April 17
= 5 7.1 0  Fiji ( ) 595.0 January 27
= 5 7.1 0  Indonesia, northeast of Buru VII (Very strong) 15.0 March 1
= 5 7.1 0  United States, south of Alaska Peninsula VI (Strong) 25.0 May 14
= 5 7.1 800  Republic of China (1912-1949), Sichuan Province X (Extreme) 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  Philippines, northwest of Luzon ( ) 15.0 March 3
= 6 7.0 4  Peru, Lima Region ( ) 51.2 May 28
= 6 7.0 0  Argentina, Salta Province desc=1|VII} 30.0 August 25
= 6 7.0 0  Philippines, Dinagat Island ( ) 100.0 September 2
= 6 7.0 0  Costa Rica, San Jose Province ( ) 38.5 November 19
= 6 7.0 0  Chile, Antofagasta Region VII (Very strong) 100.0 December 26
  • Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January
January
Strongest magnitude7.8 Mw  Philippines
Deadliest7.8 Mw  Philippines
74 deaths
Total fatalities74
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.94
6.0−6.92
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

4[1] Fiji7.0581.6
6[2][3] Mexico, Guerrero6.430.0VI
22[4] Fiji7.0143.6
24[5][6][7][8] Philippines, Panay7.815.0IX The 1948 Lady Caycay earthquake caused a total of 74 deaths. 2 people were killed in a tsunami that swept ashore. Many homes were destroyed or damaged. Costs were around $3.5 million (1948 rate).74
27[9] Fiji7.1595.0
28[10] Indonesia, Molucca Sea6.515.0

February
February
Strongest magnitude7.3 Mw  Greece
Total fatalities0
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.92
6.0−6.91
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

9[11][12][13][14] Greece, Karpathos7.315.0X Some damage was caused by a tsunami affecting the area.
9[15] Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini7.2170.0
13[16][17] Republic of China (1912-1949), southern Xinjiang Province6.315.0VII

March
March
Strongest magnitude7.1 Mw  Indonesia
Total fatalities0
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.92
6.0−6.91
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

1[18][19] Indonesia, northeast of Buru7.115.0VII
3[20] Philippines, northwest of Luzon7.015.0
13[21] Indonesia, Molucca Sea6.515.0

April
April
Strongest magnitude7.2 Mw  Japan
Deadliest6.5 Mw  Greece
2 deaths
Total fatalities2
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.91
6.0−6.92
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

17[22][23] Japan, off the south coast of Honshu7.215.0VII
21[24][25] Dominican Republic, Samana Province6.915.0VII
22[26][27][28] Greece, Ionian Islands (region)6.515.0X 2 people were killed and 45 injuries were caused. 244 homes were destroyed and a further 2,022 were damaged.245

May
May
Strongest magnitude7.1 Mw 2 events
Deadliest7.1 Mw  Republic of China (1912-1949)
800 deaths
Total fatalities805
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.93
6.0−6.95
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

9[29][30] Japan, southeast of Kyushu6.725.0VI
11[31][32][33] Peru, Tacna Region6.658.7X 1 person was killed and some damage was caused.1
12[34] Japan, off the east coast of Honshu6.820.0
14[35][36] United States, south of the Alaska Peninsula7.125.0VI
22[37][38] New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand6.515.0VII
25[39][40][41] Republic of China (1912-1949), Sichuan Province7.155.0X 800 people were killed and another 200 were injured in the 1948 Litang earthquake. 600 homes were destroyed.800200
26[42] United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska6.00.0 Depth unknown.
28[43][44] Peru, off the central coast7.051.2VII 4 people were killed and some damage was caused.4

June
June
Strongest magnitude6.8 Mw 2 events
Deadliest6.8 Mw  Japan
5,131 deaths
Total fatalities5,247
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.90
6.0−6.97
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

2[45] Indonesia, off the north coast of Sumatra6.20.0 A tsunami was generated. Unknown depth.
15[46][47] Japan, Wakayama Prefecture, Honshu6.724.4VII
27[48] Republic of China (1912-1949), Yunnan Province6.80.0VIII 110 people were killed and a further 800 were injured. 600 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth.110800
28[49][50][51] Japan, Fukui Prefecture, Honshu6.810.0VII The 1948 Fukui earthquake caused major destruction in the area. 5,131 people were killed and 11,000 were injured. About 63,000 homes were destroyed and another 18,543 were damaged. $1 billion (1948 rate) in property damage was caused.5,13111,000
29[52] New Zealand, Samoa6.535.0
29[53] Soviet Union, Dagestan Republic, Russia6.035.0
30[54][55][56] Greece, Epirus (region)6.415.0XI 6 people were killed and some damage was caused.6

July
July
Strongest magnitude6.5 Mw  Peru
Total fatalities0
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.90
6.0−6.92
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

7[57][58] Japan, off the south coast of Honshu6.415.0V
20[59][60] Peru, off the southern coast6.530.0VI

August
August
Strongest magnitude7.0 Mw  Argentina
Total fatalities0
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.91
6.0−6.92
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

11[61] Mexico, Veracruz6.8105.3
19[62][63] United States, central Alaska6.3100.0V
25[64][65] Argentina, Salta Province7.030.0VII 1948 Salta earthquake.

September
September
Strongest magnitude7.5 Mw  Tonga
Total fatalities0
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.92
6.0−6.91
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

2[66] Philippines, Dinagat Island7.0100.0
8[67][68] Tonga7.515.0V
10[69][70] Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia6.825.0VI

October
October
Strongest magnitude7.3 Mw  Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
Deadliest7.3 Mw  Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
110,000 deaths
Total fatalities110,003
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.91
6.0−6.92
5.0−5.91
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

4[71][72] Taiwan, off the east coast6.315.0V
5[73][74][75] Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, north of Ashgabat7.315.0X The 1948 Ashgabat earthquake was one of the worst of the 20th Century. 110,000 people were killed. Many (at least 1,001) were injured. Ashgabat was almost destroyed. Some parts of northern Iran suffered heavy damage. Damage costs were $25 million (1948 rate).110,0001,001
8[76] Republic of China (1912-1949), Guizhou Province5.80.0VIII 3 peopl were killed and 75 were injured. Many homes were damaged or destroyed. Unknown depth.375
28[77] Japan, off the east coast of Honshu6.565.0

November
November
Strongest magnitude7.0 Mw  Costa Rica
Total fatalities0
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.91
6.0−6.92
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

19[78] Costa Rica, San Jose Province7.038.5
21[79] New Hebrides6.8174.5
26[80][81] Australia, Madang Province, Papua New Guinea6.654.9VI

December
December
Strongest magnitude7.0 Mw  Chile
Deadliest6.7 Mw  Mexico
4 deaths
Total fatalities4
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.90
7.0−7.91
6.0−6.96
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured

4[82][83][84] Mexico, southwest of Islas Marias6.715.0V 4 people were killed and 21 were injured. Major damage was caused.421
4[85][86] United States, southern California6.06.0VII
12[87] United States, Rat Islands, Alaska6.60.0 Unknown depth.
15[88] Japan, Volcano Islands6.8246.6
23[89] Soviet Union, Commander Islands, Russia6.520.0
26[90] Chile, Antofagasta Region7.0100.0VII
29[91][92] United States, northern California6.00.0VII Unknown depth.

References
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  2. "M 6.4 - Guerrero, Mexico". United States Geological Survey. January 6, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  3. "M 6.4 - Guerrero, Mexico". United States Geological Survey. January 6, 1948. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  4. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 22, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  5. "M 7.8 - Panay, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. January 24, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
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  8. "Tsunami Event: SULU SEA". National Geophysical Data Center. January 24, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  9. "M 7.1 - Fiji region". United States Geological Survey. January 27, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  10. "M 6.5 - Molucca Sea". United States Geological Survey. January 28, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  11. "M 7.3 - Dodecanese Islands, Greece". United States Geological Survey. February 9, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  12. "M 7.3 - Dodecanese Islands, Greece". United States Geological Survey. February 9, 1948. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  13. "Significant Earthquake: GREECE: DODECANESE ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. February 9, 1948. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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  89. "M 6.5 - Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia region". United States Geological Survey. December 23, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  90. "Significant Earthquake: CHILE: ANTOFAGASTA". National Geophysical Data Center. December 26, 1948. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  91. "M 6.0 - Northern California". United States Geological Survey. December 29, 1948. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  92. "M 6.0 - Northern California". United States Geological Survey. December 29, 1948. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
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