List of earthquakes in 1947
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This is a list of earthquakes in 1947. 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. Although a fairly busy year in terms of magnitude 7.0+ events, the death toll was relatively low at 745. Up to 733 deaths were attributed to two events in Iran and Peru. The largest events measured 7.6 which compared with recent years was quite modest. Magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes were generally spread around the world with Indonesia seeing the most.
Strongest2 events reached magnitude 7.6
Deadliest
Iran, South Khorasan Province (Magnitude 6.9) September 23 500 deaths
Iran, South Khorasan Province (Magnitude 6.9) September 23 500 deathsTotal fatalities745
9.0+0
.svg)    Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1947
| |||
| Strongest | 2 events reached magnitude 7.6 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadliest | Iran, South Khorasan Province (Magnitude 6.9) September 23 500 deaths | ||
| Total fatalities | 745 | ||
| Number by magnitude | |||
| 9.0+ | 0 | ||
Overall
By death toll
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 500 | 6.9 | Iran, South Khorasan Province |
VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | September 23 |
| 2 | 233 | 7.6 |  Peru, Junin Region |
X (Extreme) | 20.0 | November 1 |
- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| = 1 | 7.6 | 0 |  Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province) |
VI (Strong) | 15.0 | May 27 |
| = 1 | 7.6 | 233 | Peru, Junin Region |
X (Extreme) | 20.0 | November 1 |
| 2 | 7.4 | 0 |  Taiwan, northeast of |
( ) | 121.5 | September 26 |
| = 3 | 7.3 | 0 | Republic of China (1912-1949), Qinghai Province |
VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | March 17 |
| = 3 | 7.3 | 0 | Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province) |
VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 2 |
| = 3 | 7.3 | 0 |  India, Arunachal Pradesh |
VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | July 29 |
| = 3 | 7.3 | 3 |  Greece, Peloponnese (region) |
VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | October 6 |
| = 4 | 7.2 | 0 |  Nicaragua, eastern Managua |
( ) | 162.5 | January 26 |
| = 4 | 7.2 | 0 |  Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province |
( ) | 565.8 | January 29 |
| = 4 | 7.2 | 0 |  United States, Northern Mariana Islands |
( ) | 35.0 | June 19 |
| = 4 | 7.2 | 0 | United States, central Alaska |
VIII (Severe) | 26.0 | October 16 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 0 |  New Zealand, Hawke's Bay Region |
VI (Strong) | 165.0 | March 25 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 0 |  Philippines, Leyte |
VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | June 7 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 0 | Indonesia, Molucca Sea |
VI (Strong) | 15.0 | June 12 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 0 | United States, Northern Mariana Islands |
( ) | 35.0 | June 13 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 0 |  Japan, eastern Sea of Japan |
V (Moderate) | 15.0 | November 4 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 0 | Southeast Indian Ridge | ( ) | 60.0 | December 24 |
- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
| Strongest | 7.2 Mw 2 events |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 2 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 3[1] |  Soviet Union, east of Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.5 | 15.0 | ||||
| 21[2] |  Chile, Antofagasta Region | 6.8 | 35.2 | ||||
| 26[3][4] | Nicaragua, eastern Managua | 7.2 | 162.5 | Some damage was caused. | |||
| 29[5] | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | 7.2 | 565.8 | ||||
February
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[6] |  New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.5 | 130.0 | ||||
| 7[7][8] |  United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
| 10[9][10] |  Tibet, Tibet | 6.5 | 15.0 | VII | |||
| 18[11] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.8 | 429.0 | ||||
March
| Strongest | 7.3 Mw Republic of China (1912-1949) |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 5.5 Mw Republic of China (1912-1949) 1 death |
| Total fatalities | 1 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 1 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 1 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[12][13] |  Australia, Madang Province, New Guinea | 6.6 | 35.0 | VII | |||
| 17[14][15] | Republic of China (1912-1949), Qinghai Province | 7.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
| 25[16][17][18][19] | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay Region | 7.0 | 165.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. A small tsunami was reported. | ||
| 26[20] | Republic of China (1912-1949), Yunnan Province | 5.5 | 0.0 | VII | 1 person was killed and at least 1 was injured. Many homes were destroyed. | 1 | 1+ |
April
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[21][22] | Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province) | 7.3 | 15.0 | VII | |||
| 10[23][24][25] | United States, Mojave Desert, California | 6.5 | 6.0 | VIII | Surface ruptures were observed which was significant for the area. Some minor damage was caused. | ||
| 14[26] | Soviet Union, east of the Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.9 | 30.0 | ||||
May
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 6[27][28] | Australia, southwest of New Britain, Papua New Guinea | 6.8 | 35.0 | VI | |||
| 27[29] | Indonesia, Alor Archipelago | 6.5 | 100.0 | ||||
| 27[30][31] | Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province) | 7.6 | 15.0 | VI | |||
June
| Strongest | 7.2 Mw United States |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 5.5 Mw Republic of China (1912-1949) 3 deaths |
| Total fatalities | 3 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 4 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 1 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 1 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 4[32] | Greece, Central Macedonia | 6.0 | 80.0 | ||||
| 7[33] | Republic of China (1912-1949), Sichuan Province | 5.5 | 0.0 | VII | 3 people were killed and some homes collapsed. | 3 | |
| 7[34][35] | Philippines, Leyte | 7.0 | 15.0 | VII | |||
| 12[36][37] | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 7.0 | 15.0 | VI | |||
| 13[38] | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 7.0 | 35.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | |||
| 19[39] | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 7.2 | 35.0 | ||||
July
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 10[40] | India, Himachal Pradesh | 6.0 | 60.0 | ||||
| 14[41][42] |  Colombia, Narino Department | 0.0 | 10.0 | IX | 2 people were killed and some damage was reported. Magnitude unknown. | 2 | |
| 25[43] | Argentina, Salta Province | 6.2 | 580.0 | ||||
| 26[44] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.5 | 80.0 | ||||
| 29[45][46] | India, Arunachal Pradesh | 7.3 | 20.0 | VII | 1947 Assam earthquake. | ||
August
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 5[47][48] | India, off the coast of Pakistan | 6.8 | 15.0 | VII | |||
| 6[49] |  Brazil, Acre (state) | 6.8 | 603.3 | ||||
| 6[50] |  France, off the coast of Algeria | 5.3 | 0.0 | IX | 3 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was reported. Depth unknown. | 3 | 101+ |
| 7[51][52] |  Cuba, southeast of | 6.6 | 35.0 | VI | |||
September
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[53] |  Tonga | 6.8 | 230.0 | ||||
| 3[54] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.8 | 110.0 | ||||
| 23[55][56][57] | Iran, South Khorasan Province | 6.9 | 15.0 | VIII | 1947 Dustabad earthquake: 500 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 500 | |
| 26[58] | Taiwan, northeast of | 7.4 | 121.5 | ||||
October
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 3[59] | Iran, Kerman Province | 6.2 | 35.0 | ||||
| 6[60][61][62] | Greece, Peloponnese (region) | 7.3 | 15.0 | IX | 3 people were killed and 20 were injured. 7,000 homes were destroyed. | 3 | 20 |
| 16[63][64] | United States, central Alaska | 7.2 | 26.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused in the area. | ||
November
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[65][66][67] | Peru, Junin Region | 7.6 | 20.0 | X | 233 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1947 Satipo earthquake | 233 | |
| 4[68][69][70] | Japan, eastern Sea of Japan | 7.0 | 15.0 | V | A tsunami generated some damage on the coast of Hokkaido. | ||
| 9[71] | France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.6 | 15.0 | ||||
| 14[72] | Japan, northern Hokkaido | 6.7 | 160.0 | ||||
| 23[73][74] | United States, western Montana | 6.1 | 5.0 | VIII | |||
December
| Strongest | 7.0 Mw Southeast Indian Ridge |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 0 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 24[75] | Southeast Indian Ridge | 7.0 | 60.0 | ||||