List of earthquakes in 1964

This is a list of earthquakes in 1964. 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. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap data. Alaska had the largest event of the year both in terms of magnitude and death toll. In March a great magnitude 9.2 earthquake struck the southern part of the state. This was the largest earthquake in United States' history and currently as of 2021^[update] ranks as 3rd largest globally. The quake and subsequent tsunami resulted in 139 deaths in total. In spite of such a large event there were only 11 other magnitude 7.0 + events which is below normal. Japan, Taiwan and Mexico had earthquakes which resulted in a number of deaths. Indonesia and Papua New Guinea experienced high activity this year with a cluster of magnitude 6.0 + events hitting throughout the year.

Earthquakes in 1964

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1964 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	United States, southern Alaska (Magnitude 9.2) March 28
Deadliest	United States, southern Alaska (Magnitude 9.2) March 28 139 deaths
Total fatalities	389
Number by magnitude
9.0+	1
← 1963 1965 →

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	139	9.2	United States, southern Alaska	XI (Extreme)	25.0	March 28
2	107	6.5	Taiwan, Kaohsiung / Baihe	VI (Strong)	48.1	January 18
3	78	7.3	Mexico, Guerrero	VII (Very strong)	93.3	July 6
4	26	7.6	Japan, off the west coast of Honshu	VIII (Severe)	15.0	June 16
5	19	6.8	Turkey, Bursa Province	X (Extreme)	27.4	October 6

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	9.2	139	United States, southern Alaska	XI (Extreme)	25.0	March 28
2	7.8	0	United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands	I (Not felt)	125.0	May 26
= 3	7.6	26	Japan, off the west coast of Honshu	VIII (Severe)	15.0	June 16
= 3	7.6	0	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	VII (Very strong)	130.0	July 9
= 3	7.6	0	New Zealand, south of South Island	I (Not felt)	20.0	September 12
4	7.4	0	Indonesia, Minahasa Peninsula, Sulawesi	VII (Very strong)	130.0	March 28
5	7.3	78	Mexico, Guerrero	VII (Very strong)	93.3	July 6
= 6	7.1	0	Soviet Union, southern Kuril Islands, Russia	VIII (Severe)	71.3	June 23
= 6	7.1	0	India, Nicobar Islands	V (Moderate)	70.0	September 15
= 7	7.0	0	Indonesia, near Banda Aceh, Sumatra	VII (Very strong)	60.0	April 2
= 7	7.0	0	Japan, eastern Sea of Japan	V (Moderate)	20.0	May 7
= 7	7.0	0	Australia, west of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea	IV (Light)	388.3	August 13

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw New Hebrides, Vanuatu
Deadliest	6.5 Mw Taiwan 107 deaths
Total fatalities	115
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
6[1][2]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.2	55.0	V
8[3]	Indonesia, off the west coast of Sulawesi	5.2	90.0		8 people were killed and 27 were injured. Some damage was caused.	8	27
10[4][5]	Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido	6.1	55.0	V
18[6][7][8]	Taiwan, Kaohsiung	6.5	48.1	VI	107 people were killed and 479 were injured in the 1964 Baihe earthquake. 3,000 homes were destroyed.	107	479
20[9][10]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.9	137.5	VI
22[11][12]	Burma, Chin State	6.2	70.0	VI
26[13][14]	Peru, Arequipa Region	6.5	117.7	V
28[15][16]	Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province	6.6	195.5	IV

February

February

Strongest magnitude	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	4
5.0–5.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
5[17][18]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.0	45.0	IV
6[19][20]	United States, south of Alaska	6.9	20.0	V
13[21]	China, Yunnan Province	5.4	15.0	VII	Some damage was reported.
14[22][23]	Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.3	70.0	VI
27[24][25]	Burma, Magway Region	6.0	100.6	V

March

March

Strongest magnitude	9.2 Mw United States
Deadliest	9.2 Mw United States 139 deaths
Total fatalities	139
Number by magnitude
9.0+	1
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	9

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
15[26][27]	Strait of Gibraltar	6.6	25.0	V
16[28][29]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.1	142.2	IV
21[30]	Indonesia, Banda Sea	6.8	359.1
28[31][32][33][34]	United States, southern Alaska	9.2	25.0	XI	The 1964 Alaska earthquake was the largest in United States history. The earthquake itself caused 15 deaths and fairly extensive damage to Anchorage, Alaska and surrounding areas. A large tsunami led to 124 further deaths. Total property damage costs were $400 million (1964 rate). To prevent cluttering only aftershocks above magnitude 6.5 will be listed.	139
28[35][36]	United States, northeast of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.5	25.0	VI	Aftershock.
28[37]	United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.5	15.0		Aftershock.
28[38][39]	Indonesia, Minahasa Peninsula, Sulawesi	7.4	130.0	VII
28[40]	United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.6	25.0		Aftershock.
28[41]	United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.5	25.0		Aftershock.
28[42][43]	United States, south of the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska	6.5	15.0	VI	Aftershock.
30[44]	United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.7	18.6		Aftershock.

April

April

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw Indonesia
Deadliest	6.0 Mw Yugoslavia, Croatia 3 deaths
Total fatalities	3
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	7

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[45][46][47]	Indonesia, Banda Aceh, Sumatra	7.0	60.0	VII	Major damage was caused with many homes being destroyed.
3[48][49]	Indonesia, northern Sumatra	6.0	65.8	V	Too far south of previous event to be consider an aftershock.
4[50]	United States, southwest of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.8	18.4		Aftershock.
4[51]	United States, southwest of Kodiak Island, Alaska	6.5	25.0		Aftershock.
13[52][53][54]	Yugoslavia, 1964 Slavonia earthquake, Croatia	6.0	15.0	VIII	3 people were killed and major damage was caused.	3
23[55][56]	Indonesia, Aru Islands	6.4	15.0	VIII
24[57][58]	Australia, Madang Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.8	108.0	VI
26[59][60]	Indonesia, Sunda Strait	6.1	20.0	VI

May

May

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw United Kingdom
Deadliest	6.5 Mw Tanzania 1 death
Total fatalities	1
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[61][62]	United Kingdom, Solomon Islands	6.0	50.0	V
7[63][64][65]	Tanzania, Manyara Region	6.5	33.8	VIII	1 person died and 19 were injured. Major damage was reported.	1	19
7[66][67][68]	Japan, eastern Sea of Japan	7.0	20.0	V	2 homes were destroyed.
7[69][70]	Japan, eastern Sea of Japan	6.5	25.0	V	Aftershock.
19[71][72]	Ecuador, Manabí Province	6.2	35.0	VI
26[73]	United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands	7.8	125.0
30[74][75]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.2	45.6	IV
31[76][77]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.7	48.6	VI

June

June

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw Japan
Deadliest	7.6 Mw Japan 26 deaths
Total fatalities	34
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	6
5.0–5.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
11[78][79]	Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province)	6.0	20.0	V
14[80][81][82]	Turkey, Malatya Province	5.8	10.0	VIII	8 people died and some damage was caused.	8
15[83][84]	Indonesia, northern Sumatra	6.2	35.0	VI
16[85][86][87]	Japan, off the west coast of Honshu	7.6	15.0	VIII	26 people were killed and 450 were injured in the 1964 Niigata earthquake. Property damage was extensive with costs of $80 million (1964 rate). 2,250 homes were damaged or destroyed.	26	450
16[88][89]	Japan, off the west coast of Honshu	6.5	10.0	VI	Aftershock.
16[90][91]	Japan, off the west coast of Honshu	6.2	15.0	VI	Aftershock.
23[92][93]	Soviet Union, southern Kuril Islands, Russia	7.1	71.3	VIII
28[94][95]	Australia, St Matthias Islands, Papua and New Guinea	6.2	35.0	VI
30[96][97]	Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini, Sulawesi	6.6	20.0	VI

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw New Hebrides, Vanuatu
Deadliest	7.3 Mw Mexico 78 deaths
Total fatalities	78
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	10

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
5[98][99]	Mexico, Gulf of California	6.3	15.0	V
5[100]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.5	35.0
6[101][102]	Mexico, Gulf of California	6.5	15.0	V
6[103][104][105]	Mexico, Guerrero	7.3	93.3	VII	The 1964 Guerrero earthquake left 78 people dead and caused major damage.	78
8[106][107]	Indonesia, Banda Sea	6.9	190.0	V
9[108]	Tonga	6.5	20.0
9[109][110]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	7.6	130.0	VII
12[111][112]	Japan, off the west coast of Honshu	6.0	12.5	VI	Aftershock of June event.
17[113][114]	Greece, Attica (region)	6.2	152.7	IV
24[115][116]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.8	30.0	V
25[117][118]	Chile, Atacama Region	6.5	30.0	VII
31[119][120]	Australia, West New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.5	35.0	VI

August

August

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw Australia, Papua and New Guinea
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
13[121][122]	Australia, west of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea	7.0	388.3	IV
18[123][124]	Chile, off the coast of Atacama Region	6.7	15.0	V
23[125][126]	Australia, West New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.2	50.0	V

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw New Zealand
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	4

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[127]	China, Shanxi Province	4.7	0.0		23 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth.
4[128][129]	Indonesia, Ceram Sea	6.1	35.0	V
5[130][131]	Australia, west of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea	6.2	65.0	V
12[132][133]	Australia, East Sepik Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.6	108.8	VI
12[134]	New Zealand, south of South Island	7.6	20.0
15[135][136]	India, Nicobar Islands	7.1	70.0	V
29[137]	Tonga	6.0	20.0

October

October

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw , Indonesia
Deadliest	6.8 Mw , Turkey 19 deaths
Total fatalities	19
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
2[138][139]	United Kingdom, Solomon Islands	6.1	26.5	V
6[140][141][142]	Turkey, Bursa Province	6.8	27.4	X	19 people died and $5 million (1964 rate) in property damage was caused.	19
11[143][144]	Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini, Sulawesi	6.2	25.0	VI
16[145]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.5	26.0
18[146]	Indonesia, Banda Sea	6.9	586.3
21[147][148]	India, Arunachal Pradesh	6.8	25.0	VII

November

November

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw Australia, Papua and New Guinea 2 events
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	10

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[149][150]	Peru, Loreto Region	6.0	117.1	IV
7[151][152]	Indonesia, northern Sumatra	6.1	100.0	V
17[153][154][155]	Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.8	55.0	VIII	Some damage was caused. Another large event struck a few days later in an example of a doublet earthquake.
18[156][157]	Australia, off the east coast of mainland Papua and New Guinea	6.1	55.0	V
18[158]	Tonga	6.0	10.0
19[159][160]	Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.8	35.0	VII
24[161][162]	Philippines, east of Luzon	6.3	35.0	V
25[163][164]	Indonesia, Southeast Sulawesi	6.0	617.5	II
26[165][166]	Taiwan, off the northeast coast	6.2	15.0	VI
27[167][168]	Japan, Sado Island	6.0	15.0	VI	Aftershock of June event.

December

December

Strongest magnitude	6.7 Mw United Kingdom, Fiji
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	4

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
7[169][170]	Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.1	60.0	VI
9[171]	Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province	6.3	582.7
10[172][173]	Japan, eastern Sea of Japan	6.3	30.0	V
28[174]	United Kingdom, south of Fiji	6.7	589.2