List of earthquakes in 1953

Earthquakes in 1953

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1953 4.0−5.9 magnitude 6.0−6.9 magnitude 7.0−7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Japan (Magnitude 7.9) November 25
Deadliest	Balikesir Province, Turkey (Magnitude 7.3) March 18, 1,070 deaths
Total fatalities	2,621
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	13
6.0−6.9	174
5.0−5.9	99
← 1952 1954 →

This is a list of earthquakes in 1953. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury or damage. All dates are listed according to UTC time. This was a fairly active year. There were no great quakes above magnitude 8.0+ as experienced in previous years. Magnitude 7.0+ quakes numbered 13 in all. Japan led the way in magnitude terms. Other large quakes struck Chile, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Turkey. The quakes with the most human casualties were in Turkey, Iran and Greece with the vast majority of the death toll coming from these events.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	Depth (km)	Date
7000100000000000000♠1	7003107000000000000♠1,070	7000730000000000000♠7.3	Balikesir Province, Turkey	7001100000000000000♠10.0	000000002016-03-18-0000March 18
7000200000000000000♠2	7002970000000000000♠970	7000660000000000000♠6.6	Semnan Province, Iran	7001150000000000000♠15.0	000000002016-02-12-0000February 12
7000300000000000000♠3	7002476000000000000♠476	7000680000000000000♠6.8	just east of Cephalonia, Greece	7001100000000000000♠10.0	000000002016-08-12-0000August 12
7000400000000000000♠4	7001400000000000000♠40	7000630000000000000♠6.3	off the west coast of Paphos, Cyprus	7001200000000000000♠20.0	000000002016-09-10-0000September 10
7000500000000000000♠5	7001370000000000000♠37	7000550000000000000♠5.5	Edirne Province, Turkey	7001350000000000000♠35.0	000000002016-06-18-0000June 18

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	Depth (km)	Date
7000100000000000000♠1	7000790000000000000♠7.9	7000100000000000000♠1	off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan	7001250000000000000♠25.0	000000002016-11-25-0000November 25
7000200000000000000♠2	7000750000000000000♠7.5	7000900000000000000♠9	Bio-Bio Region, Chile	7001660000000000000♠66.0	000000002016-05-06-0000May 6
7000300000000000000♠3	7000740000000000000♠7.4	5000000000000000000♠0	southern New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea	7001350000000000000♠35.0	000000002016-04-23-0000April 23
7000300000000000000♠3	7000740000000000000♠7.4	7000300000000000000♠3	Antofagasta Region, Chile	7002106000000000000♠106.0	000000002016-12-07-0000December 7
7000400000000000000♠4	7000730000000000000♠7.3	7003107000000000000♠1,070	Balikesir Province, Turkey	7001100000000000000♠10.0	000000002016-03-18-0000March 18
7000400000000000000♠4	7000730000000000000♠7.3	5000000000000000000♠0	west of Saint Lucia	7002128800000000000♠128.8	000000002016-03-19-0000March 19
7000400000000000000♠4	7000730000000000000♠7.3	7000600000000000000♠6	off the coast of Tumbes Region, Peru	7001250000000000000♠25.0	000000002016-12-12-0000December 12
7000500000000000000♠5	7000720000000000000♠7.2	5000000000000000000♠0	Vanuatu	7002236200000000000♠236.2	000000002016-07-02-0000July 2
7000600000000000000♠6	7000710000000000000♠7.1	5000000000000000000♠0	Torres Islands, Vanuatu	7001350000000000000♠35.0	000000002016-11-04-0000November 4
7000700000000000000♠7	7000700000000000000♠7.0	5000000000000000000♠0	Near Islands, Alaska	7001213000000000000♠21.3	000000002016-01-05-0000January 5
7000700000000000000♠7	7000700000000000000♠7.0	5000000000000000000♠0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	7002350000000000000♠350.0	000000002016-07-04-0000July 4
7000700000000000000♠7	7000700000000000000♠7.0	5000000000000000000♠0	Northern Mariana Islands	7002190400000000000♠190.4	000000002016-07-26-0000July 26

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw, , United States
Deadliest	6.1 Mw, , Haiti 2 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	1
6.0−6.9	13
5.0−5.9	1

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Bismarck Sea on January 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[1]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Near Islands, Alaska on January 5 at a depth of 21.3 km.^[2]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on January 5 at a depth of 49.2 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[3]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on January 7 at a depth of 25.0 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[4]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on January 7 at a depth of 55.2 km.^[5]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Yukon Territory, Canada on January 11 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[6]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on January 12 at a depth of 54.2 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[7]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck south of Hokkaido, Japan on January 19 at a depth of 44.2 km.^[8]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on January 20 at a depth of 70.0 km.^[9]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on January 21 at a depth of 43.9 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[10]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Nippes Department, Haiti on January 25 at a depth of 35.0 km. Two people were killed and some damage was caused.^[11][12]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on January 27 at a depth of 33.1 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[13]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on January 27 at a depth of 60.0 km. This came only 12 minutes after the Russia event.^[14]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge on January 31 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[15]

February

February

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw, , Solomon Islands
Deadliest	6.6 Mw, , Iran 970 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	0
6.0−6.9	12
5.0−5.9	6

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Fiji on February 1 at an unknown depth.^[16]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on February 2 at a depth of 35.0 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[17]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on February 6 at a depth of 25.0 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[18]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck south of Hokkaido, Japan on February 6 at a depth of 45.1 km.^[19]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on February 7 at a depth of 31.3 km. This was an aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck the area on November 4, 1952.^[20]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Fox Islands (Alaska) on February 9 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[21]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Fox Islands (Alaska) on February 10 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[22]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Semnan Province, Iran on February 12 at a depth of 15.0 km. Nine-hundred and seventy people were killed.^[23][24]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Dodecanese Islands, Greece on February 14 at a depth of 80.0 km.^[25]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge on February 19 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[26]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck south of the Alaska Peninsula on February 25 at a depth of 47.7 km.^[27]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands on February 26 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[28]

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw two events
Deadliest	7.3 Mw, , Turkey 1,070 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	2
6.0−6.9	8
5.0−5.9	14

• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Vanuatu on March 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[29]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina on March 4 at a depth of 581.3 km.^[30]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on March 5 at a depth of 52.0 km.^[31]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on March 5 at a depth of 30.0 km. This came only 20 minutes after the previous event. Both events were aftershocks of the magnitude 8.9 quake which struck on November 4, 1952 in the area.^[32]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on March 9 at a depth of 58.8 km.^[33]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge on March 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[34]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southern Mindanao, Philippines on March 14 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[35]
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Balikesir Province, Turkey on March 18 at a depth of 10.0 km. One-thousand and seventy people died and property damage costs were around $3.57 million (1953 rate).^[36][37]
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck west of Saint Lucia on March 19 at a depth of 128.8 km. This was one of the largest quakes to strike the Windward Islands in modern times.^[38]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck south of Fiji on March 19 at a depth of 598.7 km.^[39]

April

April

Strongest magnitude	7.4 Mw, , Papua New Guinea
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	1
6.0−6.9	15
5.0−5.9	8

• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador on April 1 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[40]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador on April 1 at a depth of 20.0 km. This came 32 minutes after the previous event.^[41]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on April 2 at a depth of 55.0 km.^[42]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on April 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[43]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on April 4 at a depth of 28.4 km.^[44]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck east of Taiwan on April 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[45]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia on April 6 at a depth of 63.3 km.^[46]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on April 6 at a depth of 24.2 km.^[47]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Talaud Islands, Indonesia on April 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[48]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on April 14 at a depth of 617.6 km.^[49]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Loreto Region, Peru on April 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[50]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the northern East Pacific Rise on April 18 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[51]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Xizang Province, China on April 23 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[52]
• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck southern New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on April 23 at a depth of 35.0 km. A tsunami was generated. Damage was relatively minor with costs of $13,000 (1953 rate) being reported.^[53][54]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the west coast of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on April 29 at a depth of 19.0 km.^[55]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Vanuatu on April 30 at a depth of 45.0 km.^[56]

May

May

Strongest magnitude	7.5 Mw, , Chile
Deadliest	7.5 Mw, , Chile 9 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	1
6.0−6.9	11
5.0−5.9	11

• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on May 2 at a depth of 37.7 km.^[57]
• A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on May 3 at a depth of 35.0 km. Some homes were destroyed.^[58][59]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on May 4 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[60]
• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Bio-Bio Region, Chile on May 6 at a depth of 66.0 km. Nine people were killed and 26 were injured. Major damage was caused and costs reached around $500 million (1953 rate).^[61][62]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands on May 11 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[63]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on May 13 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[64]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia on May 17 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[65]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia on May 18 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[66]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on May 19 at a depth of 13.9 km.^[67]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge on May 20 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[68]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the South Sandwich Islands on May 24 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[69]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck south of Hokkaido, Japan on May 26 at a depth of 49.3 km.^[70]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Hermanas Mirabal Province, Dominican Republic on May 31 at a depth of 16.7 km.^[71]

June

June

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw, , Indonesia two events.
Deadliest	5.5 Mw, , Turkey 37 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	0
6.0−6.9	13
5.0−5.9	11

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Izu Islands, Japan on June 2 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[72]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Bursa Province, Turkey on June 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[73]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on June 3 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[74]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on June 8 at a depth of 50.1 km.^[75]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on June 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[76]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on June 10 at a depth of 50.0 km.^[77]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Kodiak Island, Alaska on June 15 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[78]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Izu Islands, Japan on June 16 at a depth of 28.2 km.^[79]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Fiji on June 16 at a depth of 113.9 km.^[80]
• A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Edirne Province, Turkey on June 18 at a depth of 35.0 km. The epicentre was very close to the Bulgaria border. Thirty-seven people died and some damage was caused.^[81][82]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on June 18 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[83]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck southern Kamchatka, Russia on June 23 at a depth of 48.4 km.^[84]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Flores, Indonesia on June 25 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[85]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Flores, Indonesia on June 26 at a depth of 25.0 km. This followed an identical magnitude quake the previous day and is an example of a doublet earthquake.^[86]

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw, , Vanuatu
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	3
6.0−6.9	16
5.0−5.9	11

• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the far northern Kuril Islands, Russia on July 1 at a depth of 53.4 km.^[87]
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Vanuatu on July 2 at a depth of 236.2 km.^[88]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on July 4 at a depth of 350.0 km.^[89]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck just off the eastern coast of mainland Papua New Guinea on July 6 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[90]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck northern Sumatra, Indonesia on July 7 at a depth of 238.6 km.^[91]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Izu Islands, Japan on July 7 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[92]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck southern Xinjiang Province, China on July 9 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[93]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge on July 9 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[94]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on July 12 at a depth of 28.0 km.^[95]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Fiji on July 20 at a depth of 102.7 km.^[96]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck just east of Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan on July 21 at a depth of 37.3 km.^[97]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on July 22 at a depth of 58.1 km.^[98]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on July 25 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[99]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on July 26 at a depth of 190.4 km.^[100]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Fiji on July 28 at a depth of 544.6 km.^[101]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of El Salvador on July 29 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[102]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tonga on July 29 at a depth of 33.3 km.^[103]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on July 30 at a depth of 200.0 km.^[104]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile on July 31 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[105]

August

August

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw, , New Caledonia
Deadliest	6.8 Mw, , Greece 476 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	0
6.0−6.9	17
5.0−5.9	16

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands on August 2 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was a foreshock to a larger quake later this day.^[106]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands on August 2 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[107]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on August 9 at a depth of 117.2 km.^[108]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck just east of Cephalonia, Greece on August 9 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was part of a series of large earthquakes to strike the area in the following days.^[109]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck just east of Cephalonia, Greece on August 11 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[110]
• A tragic magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck just east of Cephalonia, Greece on August 12 at a depth of 10.0 km. With 476 people killed and 2,412 hurt, this was the most destructive of the earthquakes hitting the Ionian Islands at the time. About 27,773 homes were wrecked with property damage costs reaching around $100 million (1953 rate).^[111][112]
• A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck just north of Zakynthos, Greece on August 12 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[113]
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck east of Cephalonia, Greece on August 12 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[114]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Tonga on August 12 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[115]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands on August 13 at a depth of 111.8 km.^[116]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Kangean Islands, Indonesia on August 17 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[117]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the central Mid-Atlantic Ridge on August 23 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[118]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Escuintla Department, Guatemala on August 24 at a depth of 59.4 km.^[119]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southeast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on August 25 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[120]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck central Hokkaido, Japan on August 27 at a depth of 169.9 km.^[121]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Southern Ocean on August 29 at an unknown depth.^[122]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on August 31 at a depth of 45.0 km.^[123]

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw, , New Zealand
Deadliest	6.3 Mw, , Cyprus 40 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	1
6.0−6.9	15
5.0−5.9	4

• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck east of Shumshu, Kuril Islands, Russia on September 4 at a depth of 56.3 km.^[124]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck just off the coast of Valparaiso Region, Chile on September 4 at a depth of 36.6 km.^[125]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck just off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on September 5 at a depth of 50.7 km.^[126]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Cankiri Province, Turkey on September 7 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[127]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck just off the west coast of Paphos, Cyprus on September 10 at a depth of 20.0 km. Forty deaths and 100 injuries were caused as well as the destruction of 500 homes.^[128][129]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck south of Suva, the capitol of Fiji on September 14 at a depth of 10.0 km. Seven people were killed and 12 people were hurt. There was a localized tsunami in the area which contributed to the deaths and injuries. Some homes were destroyed. This was a rarity for Fiji as most of the earthquakes in the area are far deeper and therefore unlikely to cause damage.^{[130][131][132]}
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck south of Africa on September 14 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[133]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on September 16 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[134]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Tonga on September 17 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[135]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southwest of Bouvet Island on September 20 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[136]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on September 23 at a depth of 55.2 km.^[137]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Bonin Islands, Japan on September 25 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[138]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on September 26 at a depth of 46.0 km.^[139]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the northern Atlantic Ocean on September 27 at a depth of 23.9 km.^[140]
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand on September 29 at a depth of 310.8 km.^[141]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the far southern Gulf of California, Mexico on September 30 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[142]

October

• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on October 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[143]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck south of Woodlark Island, Papua New Guinea on October 5 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[144]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck south of Bismarck Sea on October 6 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[145]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck western Xizang Province, China on October 8 at a depth of 10.0 km. This was a foreshock to a larger event on October 11.^[146]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on October 11 at a depth of 49.8 km.^[147]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck western Xizang Province, China on October 11 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[148]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the northern Gulf of California on October 13 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[149]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southeast Hokkaido, Japan on October 14 at a depth of 113.2 km.^[150]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico on October 16 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[151]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on October 17 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[152]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the southern tip of Cephalonia, Greece on October 21 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[153]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck northeast of North Island, New Zealand on October 24 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[154]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Hokkaido, Japan on October 27 at a depth of 40.0 km.^[155]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Potosi Department, Bolivia on October 27 at a depth of 271.9 km.^[156]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on October 28 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[157]

November

November

Strongest magnitude	7.9 Mw, , Japan
Deadliest	7.9 Mw, , Japan 1 death
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	2
6.0−6.9	19
5.0−5.9	6

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck east of the Kuril Islands, Russia on November 1 at a depth of 27.7 km.^[158]
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck west of the Torres Islands, Vanuatu on November 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[159]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on November 4 at a depth of 35.0 km. This can be classed an aftershock of the Vanuatu quake due to its close proximity.^[160]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Batu Islands, Indonesia on November 7 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[161]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on November 9 at a depth of 33.3 km.^[162]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on November 10 at a depth of 56.7 km.^[163]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Yap State of the Federated States of Micronesia on November 13 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[164]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on November 13 at a depth of 45.4 km.^[165]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Torres Islands, Vanuatu on November 13 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[166]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on November 14 at a depth of 27.2 km.^[167]
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands on November 16 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[168]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the southwest coast of Guatemala on November 17 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[169]
• A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on November 25 at a depth of 25.0 km. One death was reported. Some damage was caused and a small tsunami was recorded.^[170][171]
• A magnitude 6.5 aftershock struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on November 26 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[172]
• A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on November 26 at a depth of 37.0 km.^[173]
• A magnitude 6.7 aftershock struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on November 26 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[174]
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on November 27 at a depth of 27.5 km.^[175]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Fiji on November 27 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[176]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck northern Xinjiang Province, China on November 29 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[177]
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on November 29 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[178]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Fiji on November 30 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[179]

December

December

Strongest magnitude	7.4 Mw, , Chile
Deadliest	7.3 Mw, , Peru 6 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0−8.9	0
7.0−7.9	2
6.0−6.9	20
5.0−5.9	3

• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on December 1 at a depth of 233.4 km.^[180]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Guerrero, Mexico on December 1 at an unknown depth.^[181]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Fiji on December 1 at a depth of 499.4 km.^[182]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea on December 2 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[183]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck western Xizang Province, China on December 3 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[184]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck west of Vancouver Island, Canada on December 4 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[185]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on December 5 at a depth of 30.0 km.^[186]
• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on December 7 at a depth of 106.0 km. Three people died and damage costs were around $7.3 million (1953 rate).^[187][188]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on December 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[189]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on December 7 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[190]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Izu Islands, Japan on December 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[191]
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Tumbes Region, Peru on December 12 at a depth of 25.0 km. Six people were killed and 20 were injured. Two-hundred homes were destroyed.^[192][193]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck east of the Kuril Islands, Russia on December 13 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[194]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck east of Bouvet Island on December 16 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[195]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Sea of Japan on December 20 at a depth of 321.6 km.^[196]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Coquimbo Region, Chile on December 20 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[197]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on December 20 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[198]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines on December 22 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[199]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on December 24 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[200]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on December 24 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[201]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on December 25 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[202]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on December 26 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[203]

References