List of earthquakes in 1933
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This is a list of earthquakes in 1933. 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. The biggest event of the year was the great Japan earthquake which struck early in March. A little over a week later saw southern California's deadliest earthquake to date, and a major shock in southern Sumatra left over 780 dead. China had the deadliest event in August with over 9,300 deaths.
.svg)     Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1933
| |||
| Strongest |  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu, (Magnitude 8.4) March 2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadliest |  China, Sichuan Province (Magnitude 7.3) August 25 9,300 deaths | ||
| Total fatalities | 13,368 | ||
| Number by magnitude | |||
| 9.0+ | 0 | ||
Overall
By death toll
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9,300 | 7.3 | China, Sichuan Province |
X (Extreme) | 15.0 | August 25 |
| 2 | 3,022 | 8.4 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( ) | 15.0 | March 2 |
| 3 | 788 | 7.6 |  Dutch East Indies, southern Sumatra |
IX (Violent) | 20.0 | June 25 |
| 4 | 200 | 5.0 | China, Sichuan Province |
VI (Strong) | 0.0 | September 20 |
| 5 | 181+ | 6.4 |  Greece, off the coast of Kos |
X (Extreme) | 15.0 | April 23 |
| 6 | 120 | 6.4 |  United States, off the coast of California |
IX (Violent) | 6.0 | March 11 |
| 7 | 10 | 5.6 |  Italy, Abruzzo |
IX (Violent) | 15.0 | September 26 |
- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.4 | 3,022 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( ) | 15.0 | March 2 |
| 2 | 7.6 | 788 | Dutch East Indies, southern Sumatra |
IX (Violent) | 20.0 | June 25 |
| 3 | 7.5 | 0 |  United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands |
( ) | 35.0 | August 28 |
| 4 | 7.4 | 0 |  Canada, Baffin Bay |
( ) | 15.0 | November 20 |
| 5 | 7.3 | 9,300 | China, Sichuan Province |
X (Extreme) | 15.0 | August 25 |
| = 6 | 7.2 | 0 |  Chile, Tarapaca Region |
( ) | 35.0 | February 23 |
| = 6 | 7.2 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( ) | 30.0 | June 18 |
| = 7 | 7.1 | 0 | Southwest Indian Ridge | ( ) | 10.0 | January 21 |
| = 7 | 7.1 | 0 | .svg){kind=small} Fiji |
( ) | 600.0 | September 6 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 0 |  New Hebrides |
( ) | 135.0 | January 1 |
| = 8 | 7.0 | 0 |  Argentina, Jujuy Province |
( ) | 205.0 | October 25 |
- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
| Strongest | 7.1 Mw Southwest Indian Ridge |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 8 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[1] | New Hebrides | 7.0 | 135.0 | ||||
| 4[2] | United States, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska | 6.4 | 20.0 | ||||
| 7[3] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.6 | 15.0 | ||||
| 8[4] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 9[5] |  Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.5 | 230.0 | ||||
| 15[6] |  New Guinea, off the east coast | 6.2 | 140.0 | ||||
| 18[7] | .svg){kind=small} Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk | 6.5 | 570.0 | ||||
| 21[8] | Southwest Indian Ridge | 7.1 | 10.0 | ||||
| 24[9] |  Mexico, Michoacan | 6.2 | 90.0 | ||||
| 27[10] |  Samoa, south of | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
February
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 13[11] | China, Xinjiang Province | 6.4 | 10.0 | ||||
| 19[12] | .svg){kind=small} British Solomon Islands | 6.5 | 60.0 | ||||
| 23[13] | Chile, Tarapaca Region | 7.2 | 35.0 | ||||
March
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[14][15][16] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 8.4 | 15.0 | The 1933 Sanriku earthquake caused the destruction of many homes. A tsunami was triggered and caused 3,022 deaths. 6,000 homes were destroyed. | 3,022 | ||
| 2[17] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 3[18] |  Philippines, Luzon | 6.5 | 120.0 | ||||
| 3[19] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.4 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 3[20] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 3[21] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 8[22] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 11[23][24] | United States, Newport Beach, California | 6.4 | 6.0 | IX | The 1933 Long Beach earthquake caused 120 deaths and extensive property damage. Costs were around $40 million (1933 rate). Many schools were damaged which led to changes in building codes. | 120 | |
| 11[25] | Japan, Bonin Islands | 6.8 | 480.0 | ||||
| 17[26] | Russian SFSR, Kamchatka Krai | 6.6 | 35.0 | ||||
| 17[27] | Philippines, southeast of Mindanao | 6.7 | 35.0 | ||||
| 18[28] | Japan, south of Honshu | 6.5 | 170.0 | ||||
| 23[29] |  Mongolia, Bulgan Province | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
April
| Strongest | 6.8 Mw United States |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 6.4 Mw Greece 181+ deaths |
| Total fatalities | 181+ |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 0 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 8 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[30] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 9[31] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.7 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 9[32] | Mexico, off the coast of Jalisco | 6.4 | 15.0 | ||||
| 16[33] | Dutch East Indies, Papua (province) | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 19[34] | .svg){kind=small} Taiwan, Hualien County | 6.7 | 35.0 | ||||
| 23[35][36] | .svg){kind=small} Greece, Dodecanese Islands | 6.3 | 15.0 | X | The 1933 Kos earthquake killed at least 181 people, destroyed many homes on Kos and damaged buildings on nearby islands. Minor damage to buildings in Turkey.[37] | 181+ | |
| 23[38] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.4 | 15.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 27[39] | United States, southern Alaska | 6.8 | 15.0 | ||||
May
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[40] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 0.0 | Depth unknown. | |||
| 8[41] | Mexico, Guerrero | 6.7 | 30.0 | ||||
| 11[42] | Greece, Central Macedonia | 6.3 | 10.0 | ||||
| 21[43] | Dutch East Indies, eastern Seram | 6.2 | 120.0 | ||||
| 21[44] | Dutch East Indies, Banda Sea | 6.2 | 180.0 | ||||
June
| Strongest | 7.6 Mw Dutch East Indies |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 7.6 Mw Dutch East Indies 788 deaths |
| Total fatalities | 788 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 12 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[45] | Japan, southeast of Kyushu | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 3[46] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 4[47] | New Guinea, off the east coast | 6.0 | 120.0 | ||||
| 6[48] | Philippines, southwest of Luzon | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 7[49] | China, Yunnan Province | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 10[50] |  Iceland, southwest of | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 11[51] | Fiji | 6.5 | 80.0 | ||||
| 13[52] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.2 | 35.0 | Foreshock. | |||
| 13[53] | United States, southern Alaska | 6.3 | 0.0 | Depth unknown. | |||
| 18[54] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.2 | 30.0 | ||||
| 19[55] | United States, southern Alaska | 6.0 | 0.0 | Aftershock. Depth unknown. | |||
| 21[56] | Dutch East Indies, off the west coast of northern Sumatra | 6.5 | 80.0 | ||||
| 24[57][58] | Dutch East Indies, southern Sumatra | 7.6 | 20.0 | IX | The 1933 Sumatra earthquake killed at least 788 people and caused extensive damage.[59] | 788 | 650 |
| 25[60] | United States, western Nevada | 6.1 | 0.0 | Depth unknown. | |||
July
| Strongest | 6.9 Mw United States |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 0 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 12 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 9[61] | Russian SFSR, east of the Kuril Islands | 6.4 | 15.0 | ||||
| 9[62] | Russian SFSR, east of the Kuril Islands | 6.6 | 15.0 | ||||
| 10[63] | Mexico, off the coast of Michoacan | 6.4 | 15.0 | ||||
| 10[64] | Dutch East Indies, Aru Islands | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 13[65] | Japan, off the west coast of Hokkaido | 6.0 | 100.0 | ||||
| 13[66] | Dutch East Indies, south of Java | 6.2 | 70.0 | ||||
| 19[67] |  Turkey, Denizli Province | 6.0 | 100.0 | ||||
| 22[68] | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.9 | 30.0 | ||||
| 23[69] |  Peru, off the southern coast of | 6.0 | 80.0 | ||||
| 24[70] | Samoa | 6.5 | 25.0 | ||||
| 30[71] | New Hebrides, Espiritu Santo | 6.5 | 160.0 | ||||
| 31[72] | Peru, off the southern coast of | 6.0 | 80.0 | ||||
August
| Strongest | 7.5 Mw United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 7.3 Mw China 9,300 deaths |
| Total fatalities | 9,300 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 6 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 6[73] | Peru, Junin Region | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
| 9[74] |  Bolivia, La Paz Department (Bolivia) | 6.2 | 170.0 | ||||
| 11[75] | China,  British Burma, border region | 6.4 | 10.0 | ||||
| 20[76] | Philippines, southeast of Catanduanes | 6.3 | 20.0 | ||||
| 25[77][78] | China, Sichuan Province | 7.3 | 15.0 | X | The 1933 Diexi earthquake caused major destruction. 9,300 people were killed and scores of homes were destroyed. | 9,300 | |
| 25[79] | Dutch East Indies, Sulawesi | 6.5 | 720.0 | ||||
| 28[80] | United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands | 7.5 | 35.0 | ||||
| 29[81] |  Brazil, Acre (state) | 6.5 | 650.0 | ||||
September
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[82] | Japan, Izu Islands | 6.8 | 425.0 | ||||
| 6[83] | Fiji | 7.1 | 600.0 | ||||
| 7[84] | Philippines, Mindanao | 6.2 | 150.0 | ||||
| 9[85] | China, Heilongjiang Province | 6.2 | 590.0 | ||||
| 20[86] | China, Sichuan Province | 5.0 | 0.0 | VI | 200 people were killed in the moderate event. Landslides destroyed 30 homes. Depth unknown. | 200 | |
| 20[87] | Philippines, Mindoro | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
| 21[88] | Japan, off the west coast of Honshu | 6.2 | 50.0 | ||||
| 21[89] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 24[90] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.4 | 55.0 | ||||
| 25[91] | Philippines, east of Mindanao | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 25[92] | China, Xinjiang Province | 6.7 | 10.0 | ||||
| 26[93][94] | Italy, Abruzzo | 5.6 | 15.0 | IX | 10 people died and some damage was reported. | 10 | |
| 27[95] | New Guinea, north of New Britain | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 30[96] | Dutch East Indies, Papua (province) | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
October
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[97] | Peru, Loreto Region | 6.2 | 120.0 | ||||
| 2[98] |  Ecuador, off the coast of | 6.7 | 15.0 | ||||
| 3[99] | Ecuador, Santa Elena Province | 6.2 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 3[100] | Ecuador, Santa Elena Province | 6.0 | 35.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 3[101] | Japan, Niigata Prefecture, Honshu | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 5[102] | .svg){kind=small} Iran, Semnan Province | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 12[103] | Chile, Antofagasta Region | 6.2 | 100.0 | ||||
| 17[104] | Dutch East Indies, east of Seram | 6.5 | 130.0 | ||||
| 25[105] | Argentina, Jujuy Province | 7.0 | 205.0 | ||||
| 27[106] | Dutch East Indies, Flores Sea | 6.0 | 420.0 | ||||
| 30[107] | New Hebrides, Malekula | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
November
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 4[108] |  Venezuela, Tachira | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 14[109] | Argentina, San Juan Province, Argentina | 6.5 | 110.0 | ||||
| 20[110] | Canada, Baffin Bay | 7.4 | 10.0 | 1933 Baffin Bay earthquake. | |||
| 21[111] |  Costa Rica, off the south coast | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 22[112] | New Guinea, south of New Britain | 6.7 | 35.0 | ||||
| 23[113] | Costa Rica, off the south coast | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
| 28[114][115] | .svg){kind=small} Iran, Yazd Province | 6.2 | 10.0 | 4 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 4 | ||
| 29[116] | Costa Rica, off the south coast | 6.0 | 35.0 | ||||
December
| Strongest | 6.8 Mw Russian SFSR |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 0 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 6 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[117] |  France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.5 | 140.0 | ||||
| 4[118] | Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk | 6.8 | 305.0 | ||||
| 12[119][120] | New Guinea, eastern New Ireland (island) | 6.4 | 15.0 | Minor damage was caused. | |||
| 13[121] | Mexico, off the coast of Colima | 6.6 | 20.0 | ||||
| 14[122] | Mexico, Michoacan | 6.3 | 30.0 | ||||
| 21[123] | Argentina, San Juan Province, Argentina | 6.2 | 120.0 | ||||