List of earthquakes in 1979

This is a list of earthquakes in 1979. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. Events in remote areas will not be listed but included in statistics and maps. Countries are entered on the lists in order of their status in this particular year. 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. A fairly quiet year once again although there was a number of events which caused significant fatalities. The largest of only 8 magnitude 7.0+ events reached 7.9 and struck Indonesia in September. Ecuador was affected by a magnitude 8.2 in December which left 600 people dead. Other areas suffering from deadly events included Iran, Colombia, Indonesia and present day Montenegro.

Earthquakes in 1979

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1979 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Indonesia, Yapen (Magnitude 7.9) September 12
Deadliest	Ecuador, off the coast of (Magnitude 8.2), December 12 600 deaths
Total fatalities	1,649
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	7
6.0–6.9	86
5.0–5.9	1,374
4.0–4.9	2,973
← 1978 1980 →

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	600	7.7	Ecuador, off the coast of Esmeraldas Province	IX (Violent)	24.0	December 12
2	350	6.6	Iran, South Khorasan Province	VIII (Severe)	33.0	November 14
3	200	6.7	Iran, South Khorasan Province	VIII (Severe)	33.0	January 16
4	131	6.9	Yugoslavia, Bar Municipality, Montenegro	X (Extreme)	10.0	April 15
5	115	7.9	Indonesia, Yapen	VIII (Severe)	5.0	September 12
6	72	6.4	Colombia, Valle del Cauca Department	IX (Violent)	108.0	November 23
7	42	5.5	China, Jiangsu Province	VIII (Severe)	11.0	July 9
8	30	6.1	Indonesia, West Java	VI (Strong)	62.0	November 2
9	27	6.3	Indonesia, Bali	VI (Strong)	33.0	December 17
10	22	6.1	Indonesia, Bali	V (Moderate)	25.0	May 30
11	18	6.9	Peru, Arequipa Region	VII (Very strong)	53.0	February 16
12	17	7.1	Iran, South Khorasan Province	VIII (Severe)	10.0	November 27

Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	7.9	115	Indonesia, Yapen	VIII (Severe)	5.0	September 12
2	7.7	600	Ecuador, off the coast of Esmeraldas Province	IX (Violent)	24.0	December 12
3	7.6	5	Mexico, Guerrero	VIII (Severe)	49.0	March 14
4	7.4	0	New Zealand, off the south coast of South Island	V (Moderate)	33.0	October 12
= 5	7.1	0	United States, southeast Alaska	IX (Violent)	15.0	February 28
= 5	7.1	0	Philippines, Babuyan Islands	VI (Strong)	15.0	August 26
= 5	7.1	0	Solomon Islands, Makira	VII (Very strong)	22.0	October 23
= 5	7.1	17	Iran, South Khorasan Province	VIII (Severe)	10.0	November 27

Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.

By month

January

January

Strongest magnitude	6.7 Mw Iran
Deadliest	6.7 Mw Iran 200 deaths
Total fatalities	200
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	8
5.0–5.9	105
4.0–4.9	214

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
16[1][2][3]	Iran, South Khorasan Province	6.7	33.0	VIII	200 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused.	200	101
17[4]	Soviet Union, Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan	6.0	0.0		Nuclear test.
26[5][6]	Mexico, Guerrero	6.6	41.0	VI
27[7]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.3	25.0
27[8][9]	United States, Alaska Peninsula	6.0	17.0	V

February

February

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw United States
Deadliest	6.9 Mw Peru 18 deaths
Total fatalities	18
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	111
4.0–4.9	192

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
11[10][11]	Philippines, off the southeast coast of Mindanao	6.1	142.0	IV
13[12][13]	United States, Alaska Peninsula	6.7	33.0	IV
16[14][15]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.2	60.0	V
16[16][17][18]	Peru, Arequipa Region	6.9	53.0	VII	18 people were killed and at least 51 were injured. Some damage was caused.	18	51
20[19]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.4	10.0
28[20][21][22]	United States, southeast Alaska	7.1	15.0	IX	Some damage was reported due to the 1979 Saint Elias earthquake.

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw Mexico
Deadliest	7.6 Mw Mexico 5 deaths
Total fatalities	5
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	121
4.0–4.9	304

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
8[23][24]	Indonesia, off the north coast of Minahasa Peninsula	6.0	28.0	VI
9[25][26]	Papua New Guinea, Central Province (Papua New Guinea)	6.1	33.0	V
14[27][28][29]	Mexico, Guerrero	7.6	49.0	VIII	The 1979 Petatlán earthquake killed 5 people and injured 35 . 200 homes were destroyed with property damage costs $30 million (1979 rate).	5	35
15[30][31]	China, Yunnan Province	6.2	33.0	VII
23[32][33]	Dominican Republic, off the south coast	6.1	80.0	VI

April

April

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw Yugoslavia, Montenegro
Deadliest	6.9 Mw Yugoslavia, Montenegro 131 deaths
Total fatalities	131
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	6
5.0–5.9	109
4.0–4.9	291

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
9[34][35][36]	Yugoslavia, off the coast of Ulcinj Municipality, Montenegro	5.3	10.0	V	Foreshock to April 15 event. Some damage was caused.
10[37][38]	Indonesia, Molucca Sea	6.8	37.0	V
15[39][40][41]	Yugoslavia, Bar Municipality, Montenegro	6.9	10.0	X	The 1979 Montenegro earthquake was one of the worst in the Balkan Peninsula. 131 people died and at least 1,001 were injured. Substantial property damage was caused with costs of $2.7 billion (1979 rate).	131	1,001
28[42][43]	Chile, Atacama Region	6.1	23.0	VI

May

May

Strongest magnitude	6.4 Mw 2 events reached this magnitude.
Deadliest	6.1 Mw Indonesia 22 deaths
Total fatalities	22
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	9
5.0–5.9	132
4.0–4.9	270

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[44][45]	Philippines, Mindanao	6.0	23.0	VI
1[46][47]	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	6.4	79.0	VII
20[48][49]	United States, Alaska Peninsula	6.4	71.0	VI	Minor damage was caused.
21[50][51][52]	Indonesia, Bali	5.7	76.0	V	Foreshock to May 30 event. Some damage was caused.
21[53]	Peru, Puno Region	6.0	208.0
24[54][55][56]	Yugoslavia, Kotor Municipality, Montenegro	6.2	8.0	VIII	Aftershock of April 15 event. 65 people were hurt and some damage was caused.		65
30[57][58][59]	Indonesia, Bali	6.1	25.0	V	22 deaths were caused along with $4.15 million (1979 rate) in damage.	22

June

June

Strongest magnitude	6.3 Mw 2 events reached this magnitude.
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	108
4.0–4.9	233

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[60][61][62]	Australia, Western Australia	6.1	6.0	VIII	Damage with costs of $1.5 million (1979 rate) was caused.
22[63][64]	Mexico, Oaxaca	6.3	107.0	VI
23[65]	Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan	6.3	0.0		Nuclear test.
25[66][67][68]	Papua New Guinea, Madang Province	6.2	189.0	IV	Some damage was caused.

July

July

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw Indonesia
Deadliest	5.5 Mw China, 42 deaths
Total fatalities	42
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	5
5.0–5.9	111
4.0–4.9	255

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[69][70][71]	Panama, Chiriqui Province	6.5	28.0	VII	$2 million (1979 rate) in damage were reported.
4[72][73]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.0	78.0	V
9[74][75][76]	China, Jiangsu Province	5.5	11.0	VIII	Despite being a moderate magnitude there was extensive damage caused by this event. 42 people were killed and 2,987 were injured. 113,909 rooms (homes) were destroyed and 272,884 were damaged. 11 bridges were damaged.	42	2,987
18[77][78][79]	Turkey, Balikesir Province	5.2	10.0	VI	200 homes were destroyed.
24[80]	Indonesia, south of Java	6.9	31.0

August

August

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw Philippines
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	9
5.0–5.9	94
4.0–4.9	284

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
4[81]	Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan	6.1	0.0		Nuclear test.
6[82][83]	United States, northern California	5.8	8.3	VIII	16 injuries were caused by the 1979 Coyote Lake earthquake. Some damage was caused in the area. Costs were $500,000 (1979 rate).		16
16[84]	North Korea, off the northeast coast	6.1	588.0
17[85][86]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.1	17.0	V
18[87]	Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan	6.1	0.0		Nuclear test.
20[88][89]	Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province	6.1	229.0	IV
24[90][91]	Costa Rica, Puntarenas Province	6.4	40.0	VI
24[92][93][94]	China, western Inner Mongolia	5.9	33.0	VI	104 people were injured and 400 homes were destroyed.		104
26[95][96]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.0	10.0	IV
26[97][98]	Philippines, Babuyan Islands	7.1	15.0	VI

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.9 Mw Indonesia
Deadliest	7.9 Mw Indonesia 115 deaths
Total fatalities	120
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2
5.0–5.9	105
4.0–4.9	233

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
12[99][100][101][102]	Indonesia, Yapen	7.9	5.0	VIII	During the 1979 Yapen earthquake, 115 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Most of the deaths were from a tsunami which swept across nearby islands. 1,000 homes were destroyed.	115	101
19[103][104][105]	Italy, Umbria	5.9	16.0	IX	5 people were killed and at least 5,000 were injured. Major damage was caused.	5	5,000
29[106]	Indonesia, off the west coast of northern Sumatra	6.8	27.0

October

October

Strongest magnitude	7.4 Mw New Zealand
Deadliest	6.8 Mw Guatemala 4 deaths
Total fatalities	6
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	9
5.0–5.9	141
4.0–4.9	242

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
9[107][108][109]	Guatemala, Jutiapa Department	5.0	33.0	VII	40 people were hurt and some damage was caused.		40
12[110][111]	New Zealand, off the south coast of South Island	7.4	33.0	V
15[112][113][114]	Mexico, Baja California	6.4	15.0	X	The 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake caused major damage in the area. 91 people were injured. Extensive damage was caused to buildings and infrastructure. Costs were $30 million (1979 rate).		91
17[115][116]	Indonesia, Biak	6.0	33.0	VI	Aftershock of September 12 event.
20[117][118][119]	Indonesia, Bali	6.2	38.0	VI	2 people were killed and 40 were hurt. Some damage was caused.	2	40
23[120][121]	Solomon Islands, Makira	7.1	22.0	VII
27[122][123][124]	Guatemala, offshore Escuintla Department	6.8	58.0	rowspan="2"| 4 deaths were caused as well as 20 injuries in El Salvador. 3 people were hurt in Guatemala. Some damage was caused. Doublet earthquake.	4	23
27[125][126]	Guatemala, offshore Escuintla Department	6.6	65.0	VI
28[127]	Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan	6.0	0.0		Nuclear test.

November

November

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw Iran
Deadliest	6.6 Mw Iran 350 deaths
Total fatalities	470
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	11
5.0–5.9	99
4.0–4.9	231

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[128][129]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.1	33.0	VI
2[130][131][132]	Indonesia, West Java	6.1	62.0	VI	30 people were killed and 200 were injured. Damage costs of $16 million (1979 rate) were reported.	30	200
6[133][134][135]	Greece, Epirus (region)	5.4	40.0	VIII	1 person died and 3 were injured. Major damage was caused.	1	3
6[136][137]	Solomon Islands	6.1	30.0	V
9[138][139]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.1	45.0	VI
13[140][141]	Indonesia, off the south coast of Sumatra	6.3	47.0	IV
13[142]	Tonga	6.6	32.0
14[143][144][145]	Iran, South Khorasan Province	6.6	33.0	VIII	Foreshock to the 1979 Ghaenat earthquakes mainshock on November 27. 350 deaths were caused along with major damage.	350
16[146][147][148]	Fiji	6.9	33.0	VIII	Some damage was reported.
19[149][150]	Philippines, Mindanao	6.1	85.0	V
23[151][152][153]	Colombia, Valle del Cauca Department	6.4	108.0	IX	72 people were killed and 600 were injured. $20 million (1979 rate) in damage was reported.	72	600
27[154][155][156]	Iran, South Khorasan Province	7.1	10.0	VIII	In the 1979 Ghaenat earthquakes, 17 people died and 24 were injured. Major damage was caused.	17	24

December

December

Strongest magnitude	8.2 Mw Ecuador
Deadliest	8.2 Mw Ecuador 600 deaths
Total fatalities	635
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	6
5.0–5.9	138
4.0–4.9	224

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[157]	Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan	6.0	0.0		Nuclear test.
7[158][159][160]	Iran, South Khorasan Province	6.0	31.0	VIII	Aftershock of November 27 event. Further damage was reported.
12[161][162][163]	Ecuador, off the coast of Esmeraldas Province	8.2	24.0	IX	Deadliest event of 1979. 600 people were killed in the 1979 Tumaco earthquake and a tsunami which was generated. 20,000 people were injured. 10,000 homes were destroyed and costs reached $8 million (1979 rate).	600	20,000
15[164][165][166]	Indonesia, southern Sumatra	6.6	33.0	VII	8 people were killed and 162 were hurt. 2,500 homes were destroyed.	8	162
17[167][168][169]	Indonesia, off the east coast of Bali	6.3	33.0	VI	The 1979 Bali earthquake left 27 people dead and 200 were injured. Some damage was caused.	27	200
23[170]	Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan	6.0	0.0		Nuclear test.
26[171][172]	United Kingdom, Cumbria, England	4.5	10.0	VI	Some minor damage was caused in the area.