List of earthquakes in 1975
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This is a list of earthquakes in 1975. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap data. The year was characterized by several large events which helped bring the number of magnitude 7.0+ events to 13. Six events were larger than the biggest event of 1974. Two events reached magnitude 7.9. Turkey had the deadliest event with 2,300 lives being lost in September. China had an earthquake in February which resulted in 2,000 deaths.
Strongest7.9 Mw 2 events
Deadliest
Turkey, Diyarbakir Province (Magnitude 6.7) September 6 2,311 deaths
Turkey, Diyarbakir Province (Magnitude 6.7) September 6 2,311 deathsTotal fatalities4,379
9.0+0
.svg)    Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1975
| |||
| Strongest | 7.9 Mw 2 events | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadliest | Turkey, Diyarbakir Province (Magnitude 6.7) September 6 2,311 deaths | ||
| Total fatalities | 4,379 | ||
| Number by magnitude | |||
| 9.0+ | 0 | ||
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 | ||
| 7.0–7.9 | 13 | ||
| 6.0–6.9 | 57 | ||
| 5.0–5.9 | 1,444 | ||
| 4.0–4.9 | 2,591 | ||
By death toll
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,311 | 6.7 | Turkey, Diyarbakir Province |
IX (Violent) | 26.0 | September 6 |
| 2 | 2,000 | 7.0 |  China, Liaoning Province |
X (Extreme) | 33.0 | February 4 |
| 3 | 47 | 6.8 |  India, Himachal Pradesh |
VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | January 19 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.
By magnitude
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| = 1 | 7.9 | 0 | north Atlantic Ocean | IV (Light) | 33.0 | May 26 |
| = 1 | 7.9 | 0 |  Papua New Guinea, off the west coast of Bougainville Island |
VIII (Severe) | 49.0 | July 20 |
| = 2 | 7.8 | 0 |  Tonga, south of |
( ) | 9.0 | October 11 |
| = 2 | 7.8 | 0 |  Western Samoa |
( ) | 33.0 | December 26 |
| = 3 | 7.7 | 0 |  Chile, Bio-Bio Region |
IX (Violent) | 6.0 | May 10 |
| = 3 | 7.7 | 0 |  United Kingdom, British Solomon Islands |
VIII (Severe) | 44.0 | July 20 |
| = 3 | 7.7 | 2 |  United States, Hawaii (island) |
IX (Violent) | 9.0 | November 29 |
| 4 | 7.6 | 0 | United States, Near Islands, Alaska |
VI (Strong) | 10.0 | February 2 |
| 5 | 7.2 | 1 |  Philippines, east of Samar |
VII (Very strong) | 50.0 | October 31 |
| = 6 | 7.0 | 2,000 | China, Liaoning Province |
X (Extreme) | 33.0 | February 4 |
| = 6 | 7.0 | 0 |  Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia |
( ) | 15.0 | June 10 |
| = 6 | 7.0 | 0 |  Indonesia, off the west coast of southern Sumatra |
VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | October 1 |
| = 6 | 7.0 | 0 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, British Solomon Islands |
( ) | 54.0 | October 6 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.
By month
January
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 8[1][2] | Indonesia, southern Sumatra | 6.0 | 95.0 | V | |||
| 9[3][4] | Soviet Union, Dagestan, Russia | 5.2 | 31.0 | Some damage was caused in the area. | |||
| 14[5][6] | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 33.0 | V | |||
| 15[7][8] | China, western Sichuan Province | 6.0 | 33.0 | VI | |||
| 19[9][10][11] | India, Himachal Pradesh | 6.8 | 33.0 | VIII | The 1975 Kinnaur earthquake resulted in 47 deaths and some damage. | 47 | |
| 19[12][13] | India, Himachal Pradesh | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
| 23[14][15][16] |  Japan, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu | 5.8 | 10.0 | VII | Some damage was reported. | ||
| 25[17][18] |  Colombia, Choco Department | 6.5 | 36.0 | VII | |||
February
| Strongest | 7.6 Mw United States |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 7.0 Mw China 2,000 deaths |
| Total fatalities | 2,001 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 1 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 95 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 205 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 2[19][20][21] | United States, Near Islands, Alaska | 7.6 | 10.0 | IX | The 1975 Near Islands earthquake resulted in some damage. | ||
| 4[22][23][24] | China, Liaoning Province | 7.0 | 33.0 | X | The 1975 Haicheng earthquake left 2,000 people dead. Extensive property destruction was caused. Due to changes in land elevation and water levels officials ordered the evacuation of the local area. Strange animal behaviour and foreshock activity also led to the decision which saved thousands of lives. | 2,000 | |
| 9[25][26][27] | Indonesia, West Java | 5.6 | 27.0 | VIII | 1 person died and some damage was caused. | 1 | |
| 22[28][29] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 48.0 | V | |||
March
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 5[30][31] | Indonesia, Ceram Sea | 6.6 | 33.0 | VIII | |||
| 7[32][33][34] |  Iran, Hormozgan Province | 6.1 | 27.0 | VIII | 7 people were killed and 200 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 7 | 200 |
| 13[35][36][37] | Chile, Coquimbo Region | 6.9 | 4.0 | VIII | 2 deaths and 25 injuries were reported. Some damage was caused. | 2 | 25 |
| 17[38][39] | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 6.0 | 33.0 | VI | |||
| 18[40][41] |  Peru, Loreto Region | 6.2 | 98.0 | V | |||
| 23[42] |  Taiwan, east of | 6.6 | 21.0 | ||||
| 27[43][44][45] | Turkey, northeast Aegean Sea | 6.7 | 5.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | ||
| 28[46][47][48] | United States, southern Idaho | 6.1 | 5.0 | VIII | 1 person was injured and property damage was caused with costs reaching $1 million (1975 rate). | 1 | |
April
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 5[49][50][51] |  Venezuela, Lara (state) | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | 3 people were killed and 20 were injured. Property damage costs of $1.2 million (1975 rate) were caused. | 3 | 20 |
| 9[52][53] |  Papua New Guinea, New Ireland (island) | 6.3 | 133.0 | V | |||
| 16[54] |  Norway, west of Jan Mayen Island | 6.5 | 13.0 | ||||
| 20[55][56][57] |  Japan, Oita Prefecture, Kyushu | 6.1 | 7.0 | IX | 8 people were hurt and major damage was reported. | 8 | |
| 23[58][59] |  Mexico, off the coast of Guerrero | 6.2 | 11.0 | VII | |||
| 28[60][61] | China, Xinjiang Province | 6.3 | 33.0 | VII | |||
May
| Strongest | 7.9 Mw North Atlantic Ocean |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 2 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 106 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 250 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 5[62][63] | China, southern Qinghai Province | 6.1 | 33.0 | VII | |||
| 10[64][65][66] | Chile, Bio-Bio Region | 7.7 | 6.0 | IX | Some damage was reported. | ||
| 26[67][68][69] | North Atlantic Ocean | 7.9 | 33.0 | IV | Largest event of 1975. The 1975 North Atlantic earthquake caused some damage. | ||
| 27[70][71] | Indonesia, Gorontalo, Sulawesi | 6.1 | 70.0 | V | |||
June
| Strongest | 7.0 Mw Soviet Union |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 6 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 191 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 333 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 10[72][73] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.0 | 15.0 | V | |||
| 13[74] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.4 | 19.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 14[75] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.0 | 31.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 15[76] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.2 | 38.0 | Aftershock. | |||
| 16[77] | Papua New Guinea, Bismarck Sea | 6.5 | 33.0 | ||||
| 22[78] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 21.0 | Aftershock of June 10 event. | |||
| 23[79][80] | Papua New Guinea, Admiralty Islands | 6.2 | 33.0 | VI | |||
| 30[81][82] | United States, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming | 5.9 | 7.0 | VIII | Minor damage was caused. Some rockslides and landslides were observed as well as other topographical changes. | ||
July
| Strongest | 7.9 Mw Papua New Guinea |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 2 events caused 1 death each. |
| Total fatalities | 2 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 2 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 8 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 122 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 211 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 8[83][84] | Mexico, Gulf of California | 6.5 | 33.0 | VIII | |||
| 8[85][86][87] |  Myanmar, Magway Region | 6.5 | 157.0 | V | The 1975 Bagan earthquake resulted in 1 death and 1 injury. Damage costs were $500,000 (1975 rate). | 1 | 1 |
| 10[88][89] | Philippines, off the east coast of Mindanao | 6.2 | 86.0 | V | |||
| 11[90][91][92] |  Algeria, Setif Province | 4.3 | 33.0 | III | 1 person died and 18 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 1 | 18 |
| 20[93][94][95] | Papua New Guinea, off the west coast of Bougainville Island | 7.9 | 49.0 | VIII | Largest event of 1975. Many homes were destroyed in the area. A tsunami was generated. | ||
| 20[96][97] | United Kingdom, British Solomon Islands | 7.7 | 44.0 | VIII | Aftershock of previous event. | ||
| 20[98][99] | Papua New Guinea, off the west coast of Bougainville Island | 6.7 | 50.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
| 21[100][101] | Papua New Guinea, off the west coast of Bougainville Island | 6.8 | 47.0 | VI | Aftershock. | ||
| 21[102][103] | Papua New Guinea, off the west coast of Bougainville Island | 6.1 | 95.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
| 22[104][105] | .svg){kind=small} British Solomon Islands | 6.1 | 36.0 | V | Aftershock. | ||
| 30[106][107] | Indonesia, West Timor | 6.1 | 16.0 | VIII | |||
August
| Strongest | 6.6 Mw Soviet Union |
|---|---|
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 0 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 3 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 116 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 190 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[108][109][110] | United States, northern California | 5.7 | 5.0 | VIII | 10 people were injured. Damage costs were $3 million (1975 rate). | 10 | |
| 10[111] |  Argentina, Jujuy Province | 6.2 | 166.0 | ||||
| 15[112] | Soviet Union, Commander Islands, Russia | 6.6 | 4.0 | ||||
| 23[113][114] | Philippines, northeast of Mindanao | 6.0 | 40.0 | VI | |||
September
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 6[115][116][117] | Turkey, Diyarbakir Province | 6.7 | 26.0 | IX | Deadliest event of 1975. The 1975 Lice earthquake resulted in 2,311 deaths. Another 3,372 were injured. Damage costs were $17 million (1975 rate). | 2,311 | 3,372 |
| 21[118][119] | Iran, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province | 5.2 | 33.0 | VII | 2 people were killed and extensive damage was caused. | 2 | |
| 24[120] | Tonga | 6.5 | 33.0 | ||||
| 30[121][122] | Indonesia, off the west coast of southern Sumatra | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | Foreshock. | ||
October
| Strongest | 7.8 Mw Tonga |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 7.2 Mw Philippines 1 death |
| Total fatalities | 1 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 4 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 9 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 109 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 167 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[123][124] | Indonesia, off the west coast of southern Sumatra | 7.0 | 33.0 | VII | |||
| 3[125][126] |  Afghanistan, Kandahar Province | 6.7 | 11.0 | VIII | |||
| 3[127] |  Australia, Western Australia | 6.0 | 33.0 | ||||
| 3[128][129] | Afghanistan, Kandahar Province | 6.4 | 33.0 | VIII | Aftershock. | ||
| 6[130][131] | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 7.0 | 54.0 | VI | |||
| 10[132][133] |  New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 123.0 | IV | |||
| 11[134] | Tonga, south of | 7.8 | 9.0 | ||||
| 20[135] |  Fiji | 6.5 | 33.0 | ||||
| 21[136][137] | Philippines, west of Panay | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | Foreshock. | ||
| 21[138][139] | Philippines, west of Panay | 6.3 | 33.0 | VII | |||
| 26[140][141] | Philippines, east of Mindanao | 6.1 | 50.0 | IV | |||
| 28[142][143] | Chile, offshore Antofagasta Region | 6.3 | 38.0 | VI | |||
| 31[144][145][146][147] | Philippines, east of Samar | 7.2 | 50.0 | VII | 1 person was killed by the earthquake. A tsunami struck causing the destruction of 30 homes. | 1 | |
November
| Strongest | 7.7 Mw United States |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 7.7 Mw United States 2 deaths |
| Total fatalities | 2 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 3 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 133 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 190 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 1[148][149][150] | United States, north of Guam | 6.1 | 113.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | ||
| 6[151] | Philippines, east of Samar | 6.1 | 11.0 | Aftershock of October 31 event. | |||
| 15[152] | Philippines, east of Samar | 6.1 | 11.0 | Aftershock of October 31 event. | |||
| 29[153][154][155][156] | United States, Hawaii (island) | 7.7 | 8.6 | IX | The 1975 Hawaii earthquake triggered a local tsunami with 2 deaths being reported. 19 people were injured. Total property damages were $4 million (1975 rate). This was the largest event in Hawaii since 1868. | 2 | 19 |
December
| Strongest | 7.8 Mw Western Samoa |
|---|---|
| Deadliest | 5.5 Mw  Greece 1 death |
| Total fatalities | 1 |
| Number by magnitude | |
| 8.0–8.9 | 0 |
| 7.0–7.9 | 1 |
| 6.0–6.9 | 3 |
| 5.0–5.9 | 121 |
| 4.0–4.9 | 211 |
| Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dead | Injured | ||||||
| 11[157][158] | Peru, Junin Region | 6.0 | 98.0 | IV | |||
| 17[159][160] | Indonesia, northern Sumatra | 6.2 | 17.0 | VII | |||
| 25[161][162] | Papua New Guinea, East Sepik Province | 6.6 | 115.0 | V | |||
| 26[163][164] | Western Samoa | 7.8 | 33.0 | IV | |||
| 31[165][166][167] | Greece, Western Greece | 5.5 | 19.0 | VII | 1 person was killed, 10 were injured and major damage was caused. | 1 | 10 |