List of earthquakes in 1923
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This is a list of earthquakes in 1923. 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. 1923 was a memorable year. Among the events was the great Tokyo, Japan earthquake. Other destructive earthquakes struck China, Iran, Colombia and Russia. The Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia and Japan saw very much activity this year.
Strongest
Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, February 3 (Magnitude 8.4)
.svg){kind=small}
Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, February 3 (Magnitude 8.4)Deadliest
Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu, September 1 (Magnitude 8.1) 186,283 deaths
Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu, September 1 (Magnitude 8.1) 186,283 deathsTotal fatalities194,102
9.0+0
.svg)     Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1923
| |||
| Strongest | Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, February 3 (Magnitude 8.4) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadliest | Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu, September 1 (Magnitude 8.1) 186,283 deaths | ||
| Total fatalities | 194,102 | ||
| Number by magnitude | |||
| 9.0+ | 0 | ||
| 8.0â8.9 | 2 | ||
| 7.0â7.9 | 15 | ||
| 6.0â6.9 | 51 | ||
| 5.0â5.9 | 2 | ||
Overall
By death toll
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 186,283 | 7.9 | Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu |
XI (Extreme) | 15.0 | September 1 |
| 2 | 4,800 | 7.0 |  China, Sichuan |
X (Extreme) | 15.0 | March 24 |
| 3 | 2,200 | 5.7 | .svg){kind=small} Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province |
X (Extreme) | 0.0 | May 25 |
| 4 | 300 | 5.3 |  Colombia, Narino Department |
IX (Violent) | 0.0 | December 14 |
| 5 | 290 | 6.8 | Iran, Kerman Province |
( ) | 15.0 | September 22 |
| 6 | 157 | 6.4 | Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province |
( ) | 15.0 | September 17 |
| 7 | 51 | 6.8 |  Ecuador, Pichincha Province |
IX (Violent) | 0.0 | February 24 |
| 8 | 18 | 6.8 | Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka Peninsula |
X (Extreme) | 35.0 | April 13 |
- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.4 | 3 | Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka Peninsula |
XI (Extreme) | 15.0 | February 3 |
| 2 | 8.1 | 186,283 | Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu |
XI (Extreme) | 15.0 | September 1 |
| 3 | 7.8 | 0 | Japan, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu |
( ) | 15.0 | September 2 |
| 4 | 7.4 | 0 |  Dutch East Indies, Raja Ampat Islands |
( ) | 15.0 | October 7 |
| = 5 | 7.3 | 0 | Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka Peninsula |
( ) | 15.0 | February 24 |
| = 5 | 7.3 | 0 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu |
( ) | 35.0 | September 1 |
| = 6 | 7.2 | 0 | Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka Peninsula |
( ) | 35.0 | February 2 |
| = 6 | 7.2 | 0 |  British Burma, Shan State |
( ) | 25.0 | June 22 |
| = 6 | 7.2 | 0 |  New Guinea, northwest of Bougainville Island |
( ) | 145.1 | November 2 |
| = 7 | 7.1 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( ) | 35.0 | June 1 |
| = 7 | 7.1 | 0 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu |
( ) | 35.0 | September 2 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 0 |  Philippines, Mindanao |
VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | March 2 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 4,800 | China, Sichuan |
X (Extreme) | 15.0 | March 24 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 0 |  United States, south of the Alaska Peninsula |
( ) | 25.0 | May 4 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, south of Kyushu |
( ) | 35.0 | July 13 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, Tokyo Bay, Honshu |
( ) | 35.0 | September 1 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 0 | New Guinea, southeast New Ireland (island) |
( ) | 35.0 | November 4 |
- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
| Strongest | 6.9 Mw United States |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0â8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0â7.9 | 0 |
| 6.0â6.9 | 1 |
February
| Strongest | 8.4 Mw Russian SFSR |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 6.8 Mw Ecuador 51+ deaths |
| Total fatalities | 54+ |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0â8.9 | 1 |
| 7.0â7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0â6.9 | 4 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[3] |  France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands | 6.9 | 30.0 | ||||
| 2[4] | Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.7 | 15.0 | Foreshock. | |||
| 2[5] | Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 7.2 | 35.0 | Foreshock. | |||
| 3[6][7][8] | Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka | 8.4 | 15.0 | XI | The February 1923 Kamchatka earthquake generated a large tsunami which caused some damage. Three deaths were reported. Two were in Russia with the third being in Hawaii. Damage costs were $1.5 million (1923 rate). | 3 | |
| 23[9] | Dutch East Indies, Central Sulawesi | 6.5 | 35.0 | ||||
| 24[10] | Ecuador, Pichincha Province | 6.8 | 0.0 | IX | At least 51 deaths were caused. | 51+ | |
| 24[11][12] | Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 7.3 | 15.0 | Some damage was caused. | |||
March
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[13][14] | Philippines, Mindanao | 7.0 | 15.0 | VII | |||
| 14[15] | Philippines, southeast of Mindanao | 6.4 | 35.0 | ||||
| 16[16] | Philippines, southeast of Mindanao | 6.8 | 35.0 | ||||
| 24[17][18] | China, Sichuan | 7.0 | 15.0 | X | The 1923 Renda earthquake killed 4,800 people and caused major property damage. | 4,800 | |
April
| Strongest | 8.2 Mw 2 events |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 8.2 Mw Russian SFSR 18 deaths |
| Total fatalities | 18 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0â8.9 | 1 |
| 7.0â7.9 | 0 |
| 6.0â6.9 | 3 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 13[19][20][21][22] | Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka | 8.2 | 35.0 | X | 18 people were killed due to a tsunami caused by the April 1923 Kamchatka earthquake and tsunami. 400 people were believed drowned in Korea. Major damage was reported. | 18 | |
| 19[23] | Dutch East Indies, Kalimantan | 6.8 | 35.0 | ||||
| 23[24] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.6 | 20.0 | ||||
May
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 4[25] | United States, south of the Alaska Peninsula | 7.0 | 25.0 | ||||
| 4[26][27] |  Chile, Atacama Region | 6.5 | 35.0 | Some homes were damaged or destroyed. | |||
| 12[28] | Dutch East Indies, Sunda Strait | 6.4 | 25.0 | ||||
| 15[29] | Dutch East Indies, off the south coast of Java | 0.0 | 0.0 | IX | Damage was reported in the area. The magnitude and depth were unknown. | ||
| 23[30] | Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
| 25[31] | Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province | 5.7 | 0.0 | X | 2,200 | ||
June
| Strongest | 7.2 Mw British Burma |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0â8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0â7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0â6.9 | 2 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[32] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.9 | 15.0 | rowspan="2"|This pair of events struck three hours apart and is an example of a doublet earthquake. | |||
| 1[33] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.1 | 35.0 | ||||
| Jun 18[34] |  Tonga | 6.8 | 15.0 | ||||
| 22[35] | British Burma, Shan State | 7.2 | 25.0 | ||||
July
| Strongest | 7.0 Mw Japan |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0â8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0â7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0â6.9 | 4 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[36] | .svg){kind=small} Taiwan, north of | 6.2 | 25.0 | ||||
| 12[37] |  Fiji, north of Vanua Levu | 6.4 | 15.0 | ||||
| 13[38] | Japan, off the south coast of Kyushu | 7.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 13[39] | Japan, east of Tanegashima | 6.6 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 23[40][41] | United States, south of Loma Linda, California | 6.2 | 35.0 | Two people were injured and minor damage was caused. | |||
August
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[42] | .svg){kind=small} Greece, south of Crete | 6.5 | 35.0 | ||||
| 8[43] |  Venezuela, Sucre, Venezuela | 6.3 | 110.0 | ||||
| 11[44] | .svg){kind=small} Malaya, Sabah | 6.3 | 35.0 | ||||
| 12[45] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.6 | 35.0 | ||||
| 28[46] |  Mexico, Gulf of California | 6.5 | 10.0 | ||||
September
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[47][48] | Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu | 8.1 | 15.0 | XI | The 1923 Great KantÅ earthquake was one of the most destructive of the 20th Century. Tokyo and surrounding areas suffered heavily both in human and material terms. The death toll was 142,807 with another 43,476 missing. Another 47,000 were injured. Strong aftershocks rattled the region and the fires associated with the earthquakes caused further disruption. Property damage was $600 million (1923 rate). 695,000 homes were destroyed. | 186,283 | 47,000 |
| 1[49] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 60.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 1[50] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 7.3 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 1[51] | Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu | 6.6 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 1[52] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 7.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 1[53] | Japan, Shizuoka Prefecture, Honshu | 6.7 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 1[54] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 1[55] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.4 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 2[56] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 7.8 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 2[57] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 7.1 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 2[58] | Japan, Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu | 6.5 | 5.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 2[59] |  Bolivia, Beni Department | 6.8 | 35.0 | ||||
| 9[60] |  Bangladesh, Netrokona District | 6.8 | 15.0 | ||||
| 14[61] |  Mongolia, Zavkhan Province | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 16[62] | Dutch East Indies, Papua (province) | 6.5 | 35.0 | ||||
| 17[63][64] | Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province | 6.4 | 15.0 | IX | 157 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 157 | |
| 22[65][66] | Iran, Kerman Province | 6.8 | 15.0 | 290 people were killed. | 290 | ||
| 26[67] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 10.0 | Aftershock. | |||
October
| Strongest | 7.4 Mw Dutch East Indies |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0â8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0â7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0â6.9 | 3 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[68] | Bangladesh, Punjab, Pakistan | 6.3 | 15.0 | ||||
| 7[69] | Dutch East Indies, Raja Ampat Islands | 7.4 | 15.0 | ||||
| 10[70] |  Norway, north of Jan Mayen | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
| 15[71] | Dutch East Indies, southern Sumba | 6.3 | 35.0 | ||||
November
| Strongest | 7.2 Mw New Guinea |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0â8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0â7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0â6.9 | 6 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[72] | New Guinea, northwest of Bougainville Island | 7.2 | 145.1 | ||||
| 3[73] |  Haiti, Gulf of Gonâve | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 3[74] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.8 | 35.0 | ||||
| 4[75] | New Guinea, southeast New Ireland | 7.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 5[76] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.9 | 35.0 | ||||
| 6[77] | Chile, AraucanÃa Region | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 6[78] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.5 | 35.0 | ||||
| 18[79] | Taiwan, east of | 6.6 | 25.0 | ||||
December
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 4[80] | Japan, south of Shikoku | 6.5 | 5.0 | ||||
| 5[81] | Greece, Aegean Sea | 6.2 | 10.0 | ||||
| 14[82] | Colombia, Narino Department | 5.3 | 0.0 | IX | 300 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 300 | |
| 28[83] |  Turkestan ASSR, Sughd Region | 6.5 | 20.0 | ||||