This is a list of earthquakes in 1946. 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. Several great shocks affected the planet in 1946. The largest was one of the most significant in human terms. The quake itself was a magnitude 8.6 striking on April 1 in Alaska resulting in a tsunami mainly affecting Hawaii. The consequence of this apart from many deaths was the foundation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. This organisation has helped to substantially reduce the death toll of tsunamis in the Pacific, although there have been a few exceptions, including the 2011 Japan event. Japan itself was heavily affected in 1946 by a large quake hitting in December, causing 1,362 deaths. The Dominican Republic was another nation that suffered great destruction in August. Turkey, Peru, and Turkmenistan all saw earthquakes causing many deaths. In general, 1946 was a busy year, with 21 events measuring above 7.0 and three exceeding a magnitude of 8.0.
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More information Rank, Death toll ...
Rank |
Death toll |
Magnitude |
Location |
MMI |
Depth (km) |
Date |
1 |
1,790 |
7.5 |
Dominican Republic, Samaná Bay |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
August 4 |
2 |
1,400 |
6.8 |
Peru, Ancash Region |
XI (Extreme)
|
15.0 |
November 10 |
3 |
1,362 |
8.3 |
Japan, off the south coast of Honshu |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
December 20 |
4 |
840 |
6.0 |
Turkey, Erzurum Province |
VIII (Severe)
|
35.0 |
May 31 |
5 |
400 |
6.9 |
Soviet Union, Balkan Region, Turkmenistan |
VII (Very strong)
|
37.9 |
November 4 |
6 |
264 |
6.0 |
France, Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria |
IX (Violent)
|
35.0 |
February 12 |
7 |
167 |
8.6 |
United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
April 1 |
8 |
75 |
7.0 |
Dominican Republic, off the northern coast |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
August 8 |
9 |
58 |
6.6 |
Taiwan, north of Taiwan |
IX (Violent)
|
25.0 |
December 4 |
10 |
12 |
5.6 |
Turkey, Konya Province |
VIII (Severe)
|
60.0 |
February 21 |
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- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
More information Rank, Magnitude ...
Rank |
Magnitude |
Death toll |
Location |
MMI |
Depth (km) |
Date |
1 |
8.6 |
167 |
United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
April 1 |
2 |
8.3 |
1,362 |
Japan, off the south coast of Honshu |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
December 20 |
3 |
8.0 |
0 |
Burma, Sagaing Region |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
September 12 |
= 4 |
7.8 |
0 |
Burma, Sagaing Region |
( )
|
15.0 |
September 12 |
= 4 |
7.8 |
0 |
Australia, southeast of New Ireland (island), New Guinea |
VI (Strong)
|
50.0 |
September 29 |
= 5 |
7.5 |
1,790 |
Dominican Republic, Samaná Bay |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
August 4 |
= 5 |
7.5 |
0 |
Soviet Union, Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan |
X (Extreme)
|
25.0 |
November 2 |
= 6 |
7.3 |
0 |
Indonesia, Mentawai Islands |
VII (Very strong)
|
35.0 |
May 8 |
= 6 |
7.3 |
0 |
Canada, Vancouver Island |
VII (Very strong)
|
30.0 |
June 23 |
= 7 |
7.2 |
0 |
Australia, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea |
( )
|
95.0 |
January 17 |
= 7 |
7.2 |
0 |
Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province |
( )
|
573.6 |
August 28 |
= 7 |
7.2 |
0 |
Australia, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea |
( )
|
110.0 |
September 23 |
= 8 |
7.1 |
0 |
Mexico, Oaxaca |
( )
|
109.9 |
June 7 |
= 8 |
7.1 |
0 |
Mexico, Veracruz |
( )
|
117.8 |
July 11 |
= 9 |
7.0 |
0 |
New Hebrides, Vanuatu |
( )
|
35.0 |
January 20 |
= 9 |
7.0 |
0 |
New Hebrides, Vanuatu |
( )
|
175.4 |
July 9 |
= 9 |
7.0 |
75 |
Dominican Republic, off the northern coast |
VII (Very strong)
|
15.0 |
August 8 |
= 9 |
7.0 |
0 |
Fiji, south of |
( )
|
84.1 |
August 21 |
= 9 |
7.0 |
0 |
Fiji, south of |
( )
|
588.4 |
September 26 |
= 9 |
7.0 |
0 |
Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province |
( )
|
50.0 |
October 4 |
= 9 |
7.0 |
0 |
United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska |
VI (Strong)
|
25.0 |
November 1 |
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- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
January
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February
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FebruaryStrongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw United States |
---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw France 264 deaths |
---|
Total fatalities | 279 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
---|
5.0–5.9 | 1 |
---|
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March
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MarchStrongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw Indonesia |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 3 |
---|
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April
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May
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MayStrongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw Indonesia |
---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw Turkey 840 deaths |
---|
Total fatalities | 840 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 3 |
---|
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June
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
JuneStrongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw Canada |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
2[39][40] | Taiwan, east of | 6.3 | 15.0 | V
| | | |
7[41] | Mexico, Oaxaca | 7.1 | 109.9 |
| | | |
15[42][43] | Indonesia, Ceram Sea | 6.4 | 15.0 | V
| | | |
23[44][45][46] | Canada, Vancouver Island | 7.3 | 30.0 | VII
| 1946 Vancouver Island earthquake. Some property damage was caused. | | |
24[47] | Honduras, Copan Department | 6.0 | 260.0 |
| | | |
24[48] | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 160.0 |
| | | |
26[49] | Guatemala, Sacatepequez Department | 6.5 | 90.0 |
| | | |
26[50][51] | New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand | 6.5 | 15.0 | VII
| | | |
28[52] | New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand | 6.0 | 35.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
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July
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
JulyStrongest magnitude | 7.1 Mw Mexico |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
---|
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August
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September
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SeptemberStrongest magnitude | 8.0 Mw Burma |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 1 |
---|
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October
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
2[81][82] | Soviet Union, southern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.5 | 38.2 | VI
| | | |
2[83] | Soviet Union, southern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.3 | 34.3 |
| Aftershock. | | |
4[84] | Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province | 7.0 | 50.0 |
| | | |
8[85] | Fiji, south of | 6.8 | 620.0 |
| | | |
13[86] | Bolivia, Potosi Department | 6.0 | 200.0 |
| | | |
22[87] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.8 | 200.7 |
| | | |
25[88] | Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.5 | 140.0 |
| | | |
30[89] | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | 6.5 | 30.0 |
| | | |
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November
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
NovemberStrongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw Soviet Union |
---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw Peru 1,400 deaths |
---|
Total fatalities | 1,800 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
1[90][91] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 7.0 | 25.0 | VI
| | | |
2[92][93][94] | Soviet Union, Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan | 7.5 | 25.0 | X
| The 1946 Chatkal earthquake caused some damages to Central Asia. | | |
4[95][96][97] | Soviet Union, Balkan Region, Turkmenistan | 6.9 | 37.9 | VII
| 400 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 400 | |
6[98][99] | Republic of China (1912-1949), western Xizang | 6.4 | 25.0 | VII
| | | |
10[100] | Argentina, San Juan Province, Argentina | 6.2 | 120.0 |
| | | |
10[101][102][103] | Peru, Ancash Region | 6.8 | 15.0 | XI
| 1,400 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1946 Ancash earthquake. | 1,400 | |
12[104] | Tonga | 6.9 | 15.0 |
| | | |
17[105] | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 100.0 |
| | | |
28[106] | Tonga | 6.9 | 265.0 |
| | | |
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December
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
DecemberStrongest magnitude | 8.3 Mw Japan |
---|
Deadliest | 8.3 Mw Japan 1,362 deaths |
---|
Total fatalities | 1,420 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
4[107][108][109] | Taiwan, north of | 6.6 | 25.0 | IX
| The 1946 Hsinhua earthquake left 58 people dead and 384 injured. 700 homes were destroyed. | 58 | 384 |
17[110] | Fiji | 6.5 | 580.0 |
| | | |
19[111] | Taiwan, east of | 6.8 | 98.0 |
| | | |
20[112][113][114][115] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 8.3 | 15.0 | VII
| The 1946 Nankai earthquake was one of the largest quakes to hit Japan. The south coast is vulnerable to Nankai megathrust earthquakes. 1,362 people were killed and 2,600 were injured. 36,000 homes were destroyed. A tsunami washed the shoreline contributing to the devastation with wave heights around 20 feet. | 1,362 | 2,600 |
21[116] | Soviet Union, east of Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.9 | 20.0 |
| | | |
25[117] | United States, Rat Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 90.0 |
| | | |
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