This is a list of earthquakes in 1968. 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. There was a large resurgence in activity in 1968. 22 magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes struck various parts of the planet. The largest of these was a magnitude 8.2 event in Japan in May. Large aftershocks struck the area following the mainshock. New Zealand and Indonesia had some upheaval during the year. The high activity contributed to over 12,000 deaths across the world. The vast majority of this total was caused by a destructive event in Iran in August with nearly 10,500 deaths. Events in the Philippines, Italy and Indonesia also had significant fatalities.
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck the southern outskirts of Managua, Nicaragua on January 4 at a depth of 5.0 km. Although a modest magnitude, there was property damage in the region of $2 million (1968 rate) reported.[1]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Atacama Region, Chile on January 6 at a depth of 30.0 km.[2]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on January 13 at a depth of 35.0 km.[3]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Sicily, Italy on January 15 at a depth of 10.0 km.[4] 216 people were killed and 563 were injured. Extensive destruction was reported. Property damage costs were $320 million (1968 rate).[5]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on January 19 at a depth of 27.5 km.[6]
A magnitude 5.1 aftershock struck Sicily, Italy on January 25 at a depth of 33.0 km. 8 people were killed and a further 55 were injured. Some damage was reported.[7]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Flores, Indonesia on January 26 at a depth of 30.6 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[8]
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on January 29 at a depth of 36.9 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[9]
A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on January 29 at a depth of 33.0 km.[10]
A magnitude 6.6 aftershock struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on February 4 at a depth of 23.5 km.[11]
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on February 12 at a depth of 30.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[12] Some damage was reported.[13]
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Aegean Sea, Greece on February 19 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[14] 20 people were killed and 18 were injured. 500 homes collapsed and 1,951 were damaged. Property damage costs were $600,000 (1968 rate).[15]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan on February 21 at a depth of 10.0 km.[16] 3 people were killed and some damage was reported.[17]
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Bordj Bou Arreridj Province, Algeria on February 25 at an unknown depth. 1 person was killed and 100 homes collapsed.[18]
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on February 26 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[19]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Tonga on March 11 at a depth of 109.1 km.[23]
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Homa Bay County, Kenya on March 20 at a depth of 33.0 km.. 1 person was killed and another injured. Some damage was reported.[24]
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kyushu, Japan on April 1 at a depth of 34.2 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe).[25] 1 person died and 22 were injured. Some homes were destroyed.[26]
A magnitude 6.8 aftershock struck off the east coast of Kyushu, Japan on April 1 at a depth of 30.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[27]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southern California on April 9 at a depth of 10.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[28] Some damage was reported across the area.[29]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Samoa on April 26 at a depth of 30.0 km.[30]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Michoacan, Mexico on April 26 at a depth of 30.0 km.[31]
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake West Azerbaijan Province, Iran on April 29 at a depth of 34.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe). 38 people died and 100 were injured. 1,000 homes were destroyed. Property damage costs were $1 million (1968 rate).[32]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on May 14 at a depth of 160.1 km.[33]
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on May 16 at a depth of 29.9 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe).[34] 52 people were killed and 330 were injured. A tsunami washed ashore and combined with the shaking 1,218 homes were destroyed. Total property damage was $131 million (1968 rate).[35][36]
Many aftershocks followed the event. The list will be limited to those measuring above 6.5 in magnitude.
A magnitude 7.9 aftershock struck off the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan on May 16 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[37]
A magnitude 6.5 aftershock struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on May 16 at a depth of 25.0 km.[38]
A magnitude 6.5 aftershock struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on May 16 at a depth of 43.0 km.[39]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on May 19 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was south of the aftershock sequence from the May 16th event.[40]
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on May 20 at a depth of 28.3 km.[43]
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck South Island, New Zealand on May 24 (May 23 at USGS) at a depth of 20.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[44] 3 people were killed and property damage was reported at costs of $3 million (1968 rate).[45]
A magnitude 6.6 aftershock struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on May 24 at a depth of 27.6 km.[46]
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on May 28 at a depth of 45.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe).[47]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Central Sulawesi, Indonesia on June 7 at a depth of 35.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[48]
A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck South Sulawesi, Indonesia on June 7 at a depth of 38.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[49]
A magnitude 7.0 aftershock struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on June 12 at a depth of 32.1 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[50]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Loreto Region, Peru on June 19 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[51] 15 people died and property damage was $100,000 (1968 rate).[52]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Saitama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on July 1 at a depth of 60.6 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[53]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on July 2 at a depth of 57.9 km.[54]
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Luzon, Philippines on August 1 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[61] 270 people were killed and 261 were injured. Some homes collapsed and many were damaged. Costs were around $8 million (1968 rate).[62]
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico on August 2 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe).[63] 18 people were killed. Damage costs were around $2.4 million (1968 rate).[64]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on August 3 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[65]
A magnitude 6.4 aftershock struck Luzon, Philippines on August 3 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[66]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Mindanao, Philippines on August 4 at a depth of 100.0 km.[67]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the west coast of Shikoku, Japan on August 5 at a depth of 45.7 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[68]
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on August 10 at a depth of 23.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[69] Some damage was reported.[70]
A magnitude 6.5 aftershock struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on August 10 at a depth of 25.0 km.[71]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck offshore Michoacan, Mexico on August 14 at a depth of 20.0 km.[72]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the east coast of Luzon, Philippines on August 28 at a depth of 20.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[78]
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck South Khorasan Province, Iran on August 31 at a depth of 10.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[79] Catastrophic destruction was caused. The death toll was 10,488 and over 17,000 were injured. 12,000 homes were destroyed and property damage costs were $35 million (1968 rate).[80]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck offshore Bartin Province, Turkey on September 3 at a depth of 20.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[83] 24 people were killed and 200 were injured. 2,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.[84]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea on September 8 at a depth of 30.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[85]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Ucayali Region, Peru on September 9 at a depth of 142.3 km.[86]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Fars Province, Iran on September 14 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[87]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the south coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on September 16 at a depth of 35.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[88]
A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck off the south coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on September 16 at a depth of 65.0 km.[89]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Sucre, Venezuela on September 20 at a depth of 103.4 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[90] 3 people were killed and some damage was caused.[91]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the south coast of Hokkaido, Japan on September 21 at a depth of 58.3 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[92]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the south coast of the South Island, New Zealand on September 25 at a depth of 15.0 km.[93]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Chiapas, Mexico on September 25 at a depth of 124.8 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IV (Light).[94] 20 people were killed and some damage was caused.[95]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea on September 27 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe).[97]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Lima Region, Peru on September 28 at a depth of 65.0 km.[98]
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the Bonin Islands, Japan on October 7 at a depth of 500.0 km.[99]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the south coast of Hokkaido, Japan on October 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.[100]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the south coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on October 10 at a depth of 48.9 km.[101]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Western Australia on October 14 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[102] Some property damage (costs of $2.2 million) was reported.[103]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on October 20 at a depth of 22.5 km.[104]
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the north coast of mainland Papua New Guinea on October 23 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe).[105] Some damage was reported.[106]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southeast of Mindanao, Philippines on October 24 at a depth of 45.0 km.[107]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck northern Alaska on October 29 at a depth of 10.0 km.[108]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Southern Peninsula (Iceland) on December 5 at a depth of 10.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[113]