List of earthquakes in 1961

Earthquakes in 1961

class=notpageimage| Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1961 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Madre de Dios Region, Peru (Magnitude 7.6) August 19
Deadliest	Fars Province, Iran (Magnitude 6.4) June 11 60 deaths
Total fatalities	128
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
← 1960 1962 →

This is a list of earthquakes in 1961. 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. A fairly busy year although the largest event was only a magnitude 7.6. This was a big contrast to 1960 which had three events above magnitude 8. Peru had the largest event. Japan had five magnitude 7.0+ events. Overall there was not a great deal of deaths with the total being 128. Iran had the most with 60 from an event in June.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	60	6.4	Fars Province, Iran	15.0	June 11
2	30	6.2	Amhara Region, Ethiopia	25.0	June 1
3	23	6.7	Tolima Department, Colombia	162.9	December 20
4	10	6.8	Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu, Japan	15.0	August 19

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	7.6	0	Madre de Dios Region, Peru	612.2	August 19
2	7.5	2	Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan	35.0	February 26
2	7.5	0	Ucayali Region, Peru	619.9	August 31
3	7.4	0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	421.1	June 18
4	7.3	0	Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia	144.8	March 28
4	7.3	0	Vanuatu	25.0	July 23
4	7.3	0	South Sandwich Islands	129.2	September 1
5	7.2	0	off the east coast of Honshu, Japan	30.0	January 16
5	7.2	0	Madre de Dios Region, Peru	597.5	August 31
6	7.1	0	eastern Hokkaido, Japan	43.9	August 11
6	7.1	0	South Sandwich Islands	100.9	September 8
7	7.0	0	off the east coast of Honshu, Japan	30.0	January 16
7	7.0	0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	30.0	March 7
7	7.0	0	southern Xinjiang Province, China	35.0	April 13
7	7.0	0	Ryukyu Islands, Japan	30.6	July 18

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw , Japan
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	9
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands on January 2 at a depth of 79.3 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on January 5 at a depth of 31.9 km.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea on January 5 at a depth of 142.7 km.
• A pair of magnitude 6.6 earthquakes struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands on January 5 at a depth of 35.0 km. The events were around 20 minutes apart and are an example of a doublet earthquake.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on January 10 at a depth of 58.5 km.
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on January 16 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 aftershock struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on January 16 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.0 aftershock struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on January 16 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 aftershock struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on January 16 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands on January 22 at a depth of 15.0 km.

February

February

Strongest magnitude	7.5 Mw , Japan
Deadliest	7.5 Mw , Japan 2 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	8
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on February 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southern Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on February 6 at a depth of 45.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on February 12 at a depth of 38.1 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 aftershock struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on February 12 at a depth of 34.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on February 14 at a depth of 45.7 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on February 15 at a depth of 33.9 km.
• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan on February 26 at a depth of 35.0 km. Two people died and a further seven were injured. 170 homes were damaged and the same number destroyed. A tsunami was reported.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Luzon, Philippines on February 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Fox Islands (Alaska) on February 27 at a depth of 30.0 km.

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw , Indonesia
Deadliest	6.5 Mw , Indonesia 2 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on March 7 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Hubei Province, China on March 7 at an unknown depth. 25 homes were destroyed.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti on March 11 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck west of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on March 15 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the north coast of Flores, Indonesia on March 16 at a depth of 45.0 km. Two people were killed and another six were hurt. Some damage was caused.
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck Flores, Indonesia on March 16 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Auckland Islands, New Zealand on March 18 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Tonga on March 20 at a depth of 213.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia on March 28 at a depth of 144.8 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on March 28 at a depth of 45.4 km.

April

April

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw , China
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southern Xinjiang Province, China on April 1 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 aftershock struck southern Xinjiang Province, China on April 4 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Araucania Region, Chile on April 8 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on April 8 at a depth of 104.6 km.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on April 9 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck San Vicente Department, El Salvador on April 12 at a depth of 65.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Xinjiang Province, China on April 13 at a depth of 35.0 km. A couple of large foreshocks struck earlier in the month. 53 homes were wrecked as a result.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on April 23 at a depth of 31.6 km.

May

May

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw , Fiji
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	10
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck west of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on May 7 at a depth of 60.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Mindanao, Philippines on May 7 at a depth of 75.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Bio-Bio Region, Chile on May 11 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southeast of Kyushu, Japan on May 16 at a depth of 25.5 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on May 22 at a depth of 27.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Mugla Province, Turkey on May 23 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Chinandega Department, Nicaragua on May 23 at a depth of 102.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck south of Fiji on May 28 at a depth of 228.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of California, Mexico on May 31 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on May 31 at a depth of 50.0 km.

June

June

Strongest magnitude	7.4 Mw , New Zealand
Deadliest	6.4 Mw , Iran 60 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	10
5.0–5.9	1

• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Amhara Region, Ethiopia on June 1 at a depth of 25.0 km. 30 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused.
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck Amhara Region, Ethiopia on June 2 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck western Xizang Province, China on June 4 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Caspian Sea offshore Azerbaijan on June 9 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Fars Province, Iran on June 11 at a depth of 15.0 km. 60 people were killed and major damage was caused.
• A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on June 11 at a depth of 15.0 km. 5,740 homes were destroyed.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of Guatemala on June 14 at a depth of 100.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Cesar Department, Colombia on June 16 at a depth of 114.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of Tablas Island, Philippines on June 18 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on June 18 at a depth of 421.1 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on June 19 at a depth of 195.1 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on June 27 at a depth of 15.0 km. Extensive damage was caused as 11,400 homes were destroyed.

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw , Vanuatu
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	8
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Vanuatu on July 6 at a depth of 34.9 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on July 7 at a depth of 48.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands on July 8 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands on July 8 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on July 18 at a depth of 30.6 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 foreshock struck Vanuatu on July 23 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 foreshock struck Vanuatu on July 23 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu on July 23 at a depth of 25.0 km. A tsunami was triggered resulting in minor damage.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the north coast of New Zealand on July 26 at a depth of 145.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Pastaza Province, Ecuador on July 28 at a depth of 142.1 km.

August

August

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw Peru
Deadliest	6.8 Mw , Japan 10 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	4
6.0–6.9	5
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck eastern Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on August 1 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck eastern Hokkaido, Japan on August 11 at a depth of 43.9 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia on August 11 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Vanuatu on August 14 at a depth of 50.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on August 17 at a depth of 151.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Madre de Dios Region, Peru on August 19 at a depth of 612.2 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on August 19 at a depth of 15.0 km. 10 people were killed and some damage was caused.
• A magnitude 7.2 foreshock struck Madre de Dios Region, Peru on August 31 at a depth of 597.5 km.
• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Ucayali Region, Peru on August 31 at a depth of 619.9 km. This came only nine minutes after the previous event.

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw , United Kingdom
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the South Sandwich Islands on September 1 at a depth of 129.2 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan on September 5 at a depth of 130.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska on September 5 at a depth of 44.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the South Sandwich Islands on September 8 at a depth of 100.9 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Venezuela on September 11 at a depth of 120.6 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on September 17 at a depth of 34.1 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia on September 19 at a depth of 574.8 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the eastern Bismarck Sea on September 20 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia on September 29 at a depth of 75.0 km.

October

October

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw , Indonesia
Deadliest	6.6 Mw , Chile 1 death
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	1

• A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Gansu Province, China on October 1 at an unknown depth. 10 homes were destroyed.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck west of Halmahera, Indonesia on October 8 at a depth of 120.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on October 10 at a depth of 265.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck just west of Concepcion, Chile on October 18 at a depth of 20.0 km. At least one death was caused and some property damage was reported.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Neuquen Province, Argentina on October 19 at a depth of 149.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Talaud Islands, Indonesia on October 23 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Bismarck Sea on October 26 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Batu Islands, Indonesia on October 26 at a depth of 28.9 km.

November

November

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw , Indonesia
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	5
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Hokkaido, Japan on November 15 at a depth of 43.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck La Altagracia Province, Dominican Republic on November 16 at a depth of 155.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia on November 19 at a depth of 185.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Kyushu, Japan on November 27 at a depth of 65.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Bacan Islands, Indonesia on November 27 at a depth of 25.0 km.

December

December

Strongest magnitude	6.7 Mw two events
Deadliest	6.7 Mw , Colombia 23 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	8
5.0–5.9	0

• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck southern Qinghai Province, China on December 4 at a depth of 15.8 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Los Lagos Region, Chile on December 9 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on December 14 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Tolima Department, Colombia on December 20 at a depth of 162.9 km. 23 people were killed and major damage was caused.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Hokkaido, Japan on December 24 at a depth of 118.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Bio-Bio Region, Chile on December 24 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Wellington Region, New Zealand on December 27 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Rat Islands, Alaska on December 30 at a depth of 15.0 km.