List of earthquakes in 1939
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This is a list of earthquakes in 1939. 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. 1939 was one of the deadliest years for earthquakes with over 60,000 deaths. Two major events resulted in this being the case. In January, a quake struck Chile causing 30,000 deaths, and in December Turkey was shaken by a quake which left 32,700 dead. Several other events occurred in Japan, Peru, Turkey and Ghana which left some fatalities.
Contents
Overall
By death toll
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 32,700 | 7.8 |  Erzincan Province, Turkey |
20.0 | December 26 |
| 2 | 30,000 | 7.8 |  Bio-Bio Region, Chile |
35.0 | January 25 |
| 3 | 41 | 6.3 | Izmir Province, Turkey |
35.0 | September 22 |
| 4 | 37 | 0.0 |  Madre de Dios Region, Peru |
0.0 | June 24 |
| 5 | 27 | 7.0 |  off the coast of Akita Prefecture, Honshu, Japan |
10.0 | May 1 |
| 6 | 22 | 6.4 |  Central Region (Ghana) |
15.0 | June 22 |
| 7 | 13 | 5.9 | Erzincan Province, Turkey |
80.0 | November 21 |
| 8 | 12 | 7.8 |  Solomon Islands |
15.0 | April 30 |
- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Depth (km) | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.1 | 0 |  Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia |
35.0 | December 21 |
| 2 | 7.8 | 30,000 | Bio-Bio Region, Chile |
35.0 | January 25 |
| 2 | 7.8 | 5 |  south of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea |
35.0 | January 30 |
| 2 | 7.8 | 12 | Solomon Islands |
15.0 | April 30 |
| 2 | 7.8 | 32,700 | Erzincan Province, Turkey |
20.0 | December 26 |
| 3 | 7.5 | 0 |  southern Indian Ocean |
15.0 | March 21 |
| 4 | 7.4 | 0 | Atacama Region, Chile |
35.0 | April 18 |
| 4 | 7.4 | 0 |  Vanuatu |
135.0 | October 17 |
| 5 | 7.3 | 0 |  Alajuela Province, Costa Rica |
25.0 | December 21 |
| 6 | 7.2 | 0 |  Tonga |
100.0 | June 8 |
| 6 | 7.2 | 0 | Vanuatu |
180.0 | August 12 |
| 7 | 7.1 | 0 |  Near Islands, Alaska |
15.0 | September 8 |
| 8 | 7.0 | 0 | Solomon Islands |
15.0 | February 3 |
| 8 | 7.0 | 0 | Vanuatu |
30.0 | April 5 |
| 8 | 7.0 | 0 |  off the coast of Primorski Krai, Russia |
530.0 | April 21 |
| 8 | 7.0 | 27 | off the coast of Akita Prefecture, Honshu, Japan |
10.0 | May 1 |
| 8 | 7.0 | 0 |  Gulf of California, Mexico |
10.0 | May 2 |
| 8 | 7.0 | 0 | off the east coast of Honshu, Japan |
20.0 | October 10 |
- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
- A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck south of Turkey on January 2 at an unknown depth. Major damage was reported.[1]
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Coquimbo Region, Chile on January 18 at a depth of 70.0 km.[2]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the south coast of Guatemala on January 20 at a depth of 70.0 km.[3]- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of mainland Papua New Guinea on January 22 at a depth of 35.0 km.[4]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina on January 24 at a depth of 580.0 km.[5]- A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Bio-Bio Region, Chile on January 25 at a depth of 35.0 km. At least 30,000 people were killed. Many homes were wrecked and damage costs amounted to $920 million (1939 rate). This was the deadliest quake to strike Chile.[6][7]
- A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck south of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on January 30 at a depth of 35.0 km. Five people died and at least 101 were injured. Many homes were destroyed.[8][9]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of mainland Papua New Guinea on January 30 at a depth of 200.0 km.[10]
February
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on February 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.[11]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck just east of Mindanao, Philippines on February 4 at a depth of 100.0 km.[12]- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on February 16 at a depth of 35.0 km.[13]
March
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea on March 2 at a depth of 35.0 km.[14]
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck just off the west coast of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on March 8 at a depth of 35.0 km.[15]
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck eastern Kyushu, Japan on March 20 at a depth of 25.0 km.[16] A tsunami was generated. One person died and one home was destroyed.[17]
- A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the southern Indian Ocean on March 21 at a depth of 15.0 km.[18]
April
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Vanuatu on April 5 at a depth of 30.0 km.[19]
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Atacama Region, Chile on April 18 at a depth of 35.0 km.[20]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the south coast of South Island, New Zealand on April 20 at a depth of 35.0 km.[21]- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Primorski Krai, Russia on April 21 at a depth of 530.0 km.[22]
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Junin Region, Peru on April 25 at a depth of 150.0 km.[23]
- A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on April 30 at a depth of 15.0 km. A tsunami struck which caused 12 deaths and some damage.[24][25][26]
May
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck just off the coast of Akita Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on May 1 at a depth of 10.0 km. Twenty-seven deaths and 52 injuries were reported and 479 homes were destroyed.[27][28]
- A magnitude 6.5 aftershock struck Akita Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on May 1 at a depth of 10.0 km.[29]
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of California, Mexico on May 2 at a depth of 10.0 km.[30]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck north of Mindoro, Philippines on May 6 at a depth of 110.0 km.[31]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck east of the Azores on May 8 at a depth of 10.0 km.[32]- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Volcano Islands, Japan on May 17 at a depth of 35.0 km.[33]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Oruro Department, Bolivia on May 19 at a depth of 100.0 km.[34]- , A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea on May 22 at a depth of 35.0 km.[35]
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Buryatia, Russia on May 26 at a depth of 35.0 km.[36]
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on May 26 at a depth of 25.0 km.[37]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Manipur, India on May 27 at a depth of 65.7 km.[38]
June
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Talaud Islands, Indonesia on June 2 at a depth of 35.0 km.[39]
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Savu Sea, Indonesia on June 4 at a depth of 80.0 km.[40]
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Tonga on June 8 at a depth of 100.0 km.[41]
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on June 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.[42]
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on June 13 at a depth of 150.0 km.[43]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Costa Rica on June 18 at a depth of 70.0 km.[44]
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Central Region (Ghana) on June 22 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was a rare quake for the area. Twenty-two people were killed, 130 were hurt, and 1,500 homes were destroyed.[45][46]
- An earthquake struck Madre de Dios Region, Peru on June 24. The magnitude and depth were unknown. Thirty-seven deaths and some damage was reported.[47]
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck east of Mindanao, Philippines on June 27 at a depth of 35.0 km.[48]
July
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia on July 4 at a depth of 275.0 km.[49]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Fiji on July 5 at a depth of 650.0 km.[50]- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on July 12 at a depth of 20.0 km.[51]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Commander Islands, Russia on July 14 at a depth of 60.0 km.[52]
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Fiji on July 20 at a depth of 635.0 km.[53]
August
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Paramushir, Kuril Islands, Russia on August 1 at a depth of 140.0 km.[54]
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Vanuatu on August 12 at a depth of 180.0 km.[55]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu on August 18 at a depth of 55.0 km.[56]
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on August 25 at a depth of 90.0 km.[57]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu on August 27 at a depth of 280.0 km.[58]
September
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Near Islands, Alaska on September 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.[59]
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on September 19 at an unknown depth. Two people died and some homes collapsed.[60]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Ionian Sea, Greece on September 20 at a depth of 80.0 km.[61]- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Junin Region, Peru on September 20 at a depth of 60.0 km.[62]
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Izmir Province, Turkey on September 22 at a depth of 35.0 km.[63] Forty-one people were killed and some damage was caused.[64]
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala on September 28 at a depth of 110.0 km.[65]
October
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Potosi Department, Bolivia on October 5 at a depth of 240.0 km.[66]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on October 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.[67]
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Arica y Parinacota Region, Chile on October 7 at a depth of 110.0 km.[68]
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on October 10 at a depth of 20.0 km.[69]
- An earthquake struck Arequipa Region, Peru on October 11 at a depth of 120.0 km. The magnitude was unknown. Many homes were destroyed.[70]
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Vanuatu on October 17 at a depth of 135.0 km.[71]
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the south coast of Costa Rica on October 20 at a depth of 35.0 km.[72]
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southeast of Hokkaido, Japan on October 22 at a depth of 90.0 km.[73]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tonga on October 30 at a depth of 150.0 km.[74]
November
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Khuzestan Province, Iran on November 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.[75]- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Oro Province, Papua New Guinea on November 10 at a depth of 35.0 km.[76]
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on November 17 at a depth of 140.0 km.[77]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia on November 18 at a depth of 75.0 km.[78]
- A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Erzincan Province, Turkey on November 21 at a depth of 80.0 km. Thirteen people died and some damage was caused.[79]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on November 21 at a depth of 190.0 km.[80] Some damage was reported.[81]
December
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala on December 5 at a depth of 45.0 km.[82]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on December 16 at a depth of 60.0 km.[83]
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Flores Sea, Indonesia on December 20 at a depth of 700.0 km.[84]
- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Alajuela Province, Costa Rica on December 21 at a depth of 25.0 km.[85]
- A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia on December 21 at a depth of 35.0 km. This came only five minutes after the Costa Rica event. Many homes were destroyed.[86][87]
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the west coast of Costa Rica on December 22 at a depth of 25.0 km.[88]
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia on December 25 at a depth of 125.0 km.[89]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Usulutan Department, El Salvador on December 26 at a depth of 75.0 km.[90]- A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Erzincan Province, Turkey on December 26 at a depth of 20.0 km. Damage costs were around $20 million (1939 rate). Scores of homes were ruined and 32,700 people were killed. This was one of the largest quakes to strike Turkey.[91][92]
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua (province), Indonesia on December 27 at a depth of 80.0 km.[93]
References
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