List of earthquakes in 1950

Earthquakes in 1950

class=notpageimage| Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1950 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Arunachal Pradesh, India (Magnitude 8.6) August 15
Deadliest	Arunachal Pradesh, India (Magnitude 8.6) August 15 1,530 deaths
Total fatalities	1,987
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
← 1949 1951 →

This is a list of earthquakes in 1950. 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. The main event which dominated the year in terms of magnitude and deaths was the earthquake which struck India in August. With a magnitude of 8.6, it was one of the largest earthquakes of all time, and affected the eastern part of the country. There were 1,530 deaths, which was around three quarters of the yearly total. A number of other deadly events struck Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. There were 21 magnitude 7.0+ quakes. Aside from India, Chile was hit by a magnitude 8.2 event in December that left one person dead. Aftershock sequences contributed to a large number of magnitude 6.0–6.9 events, especially in India and Vanuatu (which also saw four magnitude 7.0+ quakes). Monthly summaries are included for the first time due to a rise in events being recorded and will continue to be featured every year from now.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	1,530	8.6	Arunachal Pradesh, India	15.0	August 15
2	211	0.0	Norte de Santander Department, Colombia	41.0	July 9
3	100	6.4	Lara (state), Venezuela	15.0	August 3
4	83	6.0	Cusco Region, Peru	100.0	May 21
5	20	5.7	Hormozgan Province, Iran	15.0	January 19
6	20	0.0	Erzincan Province, Turkey	0.0	February 4
7	16	6.6	Java, Indonesia	45.0	June 19

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	8.6	1,530	Arunachal Pradesh, India	15.0	August 15
2	8.2	1	Antofagasta Region, Chile	113.9	December 9
3	7.9	0	Vanuatu	30.0	December 2
4	7.8	0	Tonga	215.9	December 14
5	7.7	0	Sea of Okhotsk, Russia	329.0	February 28
5	7.7	0	Banda Sea, Indonesia	199.7	November 2
6	7.5	0	Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan	215.4	July 9
6	7.5	0	Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica	97.9	October 5
7	7.3	1	Banda Sea, Indonesia	20.0	October 8
8	7.2	0	Papua (province), Indonesia	30.0	September 19
8	7.2	0	near Champerico, Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala	65.3	October 23
8	7.2	0	Vanuatu	60.0	December 2
8	7.2	0	southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea	78.3	December 4
8	7.2	0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	298.4	December 10
9	7.1	0	southwest of Aneityum, Vanuatu	50.0	May 26
9	7.1	0	Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina	610.0	August 14
9	7.1	0	Vanuatu	141.3	September 10
9	7.1	0	Guerrero, Mexico	35.0	December 14
10	7.0	0	southwest of Guam	77.3	May 25
10	7.0	0	Acre (state), Brazil	646.2	July 9
10	7.0	0	southeast of Mindanao, Philippines	120.0	August 31

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw two events
Deadliest	5.7 Mw, , Iran 20 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	6

• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck northern Luzon, Philippines on January 3 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Aisen Region, Chile on January 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Fiji on January 12 at a depth of 539.9 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on January 13 at a depth of 69.9 km.
• A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Hormozgan Province, Iran on January 19 at a depth of 15.0 km. Twenty people were killed and major damage was reported.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu on January 24 at a depth of 165.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Magallanes y la Antartica Chilena Region, Chile on January 30 at a depth of 15.0 km. At least 1 death was caused.

February

February

Strongest magnitude	7.7 Mw, Russia
Deadliest	0.0 Mw, , Turkey 20 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	6

• , A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on the border of Shan State, Burma and Yunnan Province, China on February 2 at a depth of 35.0 km. Some damage was caused.
• , A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck on the border of Shan State, Burma and Yunnan Province, China on February 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• An earthquake struck Erzincan Province, Turkey on February 4. The magnitude and depth were unknown. Twenty people died and some damage was caused.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tonga on February 11 at a depth of 254.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Fiji on February 23 at a depth of 210.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia on February 25 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on February 25 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia on February 28 at a depth of 329.0 km.

March

March

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw, , Peru
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	4

• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck west of Guimaras Island, Philippines on March 7 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Ucayali Region, Peru on March 14 at a depth of 150.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the west coast of southern Sumatra, Indonesia on March 27 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on March 29 at a depth of 83.7 km.

April

April

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw, , Russia
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	4

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on April 4 at a depth of 55.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Buryatia, Russia on April 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of Guatemala on April 15 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Wakayama Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on April 26 at a depth of 48.6 km.

May

May

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw, , Vanuatu
Deadliest	6.0 Mw, , Peru 83 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	10

• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Ahal Region, Turkmenistan on May 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Mozambique Channel on May 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Sea of Japan on May 17 at a depth of 579.3 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Vanuatu on May 17 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Cusco Region, Peru on May 21 at a depth of 100.0 km. Eighty-three people were killed and major damage was caused.
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southwest of Guam on May 25 at a depth of 77.3 km.
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck just southwest of Aneityum, Vanuatu on May 26 at a depth of 50.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Vanuatu on May 26 at a depth of 35.0 km. This came just 14 seconds after the previous event.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Fiji on May 27 at a depth of 588.3 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck just off the west coast of Hawaii (island), Hawaii on May 30 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Fiji on May 30 at a depth of 590.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on May 31 at a depth of 46.0 km.

June

June

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw, , Vanuatu
Deadliest	6.6 Mw, , Indonesia 16 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	10

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southeast of Mindanao, Philippines on June 4 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Loreto Region, Peru on June 7 at a depth of 115.5 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Manawatū-Whanganui, North Island, New Zealand on June 17 at a depth of 192.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on June 17 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Java, Indonesia on June 19 at a depth of 45.0 km. Sixteen people were killed and 50 were hurt. Fifty homes were destroyed.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Vanuatu on June 21 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua New Guinea on June 21 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Vanuatu on June 24 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southeast of Mindanao, Philippines on June 25 at a depth of 57.6 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck just west of Hokkaido, Japan on June 27 at a depth of 15.0 km.

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.5 Mw, , Afghanistan
Deadliest	0.0 Mw, , Colombia 211 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	8

• An earthquake struck Norte de Santander Department, Colombia on July 9 at a depth of 41.0 km. While the magnitude was unknown, the death toll was not fully confirmed with some reports suggesting as high as 211, and $5 million in property damage (1950 rate) was caused.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on July 9 at a depth of 646.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on July 9 at a depth of 646.2 km. This came 10 minutes after the previous event.
• A magnitude 6.4 aftershock struck Acre (state), Brazil on July 9 at a depth of 633.8 km.
• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on July 9 at a depth of 215.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Bonin Islands, Japan on July 13 at a depth of 511.6 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northern Mindanao, Philippines on July 18 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck west of Fiji on July 20 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on July 21 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the northern Molucca Sea, Indonesia on July 29 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on July 29 at a depth of 65.0 km.

August

August

Strongest magnitude	8.6 Mw, , India
Deadliest	8.6 Mw, , India 1,530 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	22

• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on August 3 at a depth of 80.5 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southwest of Guam on August 3 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on August 3 at a depth of 96.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Lara (state), Venezuela on August 3 at a depth of 15.0 km. One-hundred people were killed.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck southern Mindanao, Philippines on August 7 at a depth of 135.5 km.
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina on August 14 at a depth of 610.0 km.
• / A magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck the border region of Assam (now Arunachal Pradesh), India and Tibet on August 15 at a depth of 15.0 km. With 4,800 people dead, and property damage was around $20 million (1950 rate), this was one of the largest quakes of all time. Many large aftershocks followed.
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck south of Fiji on August 17 at a depth of 609.8 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the border between Xizang Province and Qinghai Province, China on August 21 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Kamchatka Krai, Russia on August 22 at a depth of 64.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on August 29 at a depth of 55.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the northeast Banda Sea, Indonesia on August 30 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southeast of Mindanao, Philippines on August 31 at a depth of 120.0 km.

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw, , Indonesia
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	13

• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on September 7 at a depth of 50.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on September 9 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck near the southeast coast of Honshu, Japan on September 10 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Vanuatu on September 10 at a depth of 141.3 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on September 13 at a depth of 15.0 km. Three-hundred and twenty homes were destroyed.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on September 14 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Rat Islands, Alaska on September 16 at a depth of 97.7 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on September 18 at a depth of 635.3 km.
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on September 19 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Fiji on September 22 at a depth of 400.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck northeast of Mindanao, Philippines on September 25 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on September 28 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico on September 29 at a depth of 15.0 km.

October

October

Strongest magnitude	7.5 Mw, , Costa Rica
Deadliest	7.3 Mw, , Indonesia 1 death
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	3
6.0–6.9	14

• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica on October 5 at a depth of 97.9 km. At least 101 people were injured and some damage was reported.
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on October 8 at a depth of 20.0 km. A tsunami was caused resulting in 1 death on Ambon Island. Major damage was also reported.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southeast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on October 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Southland, New Zealand on October 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on October 15 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Vava'u, Tonga on October 21 at a depth of 45.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck just north of Champerico, Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala on October 23 at a depth of 65.3 km. Some aftershocks followed which will be listed. Many homes were destroyed or damaged.
• A magnitude 6.5 aftershock struck Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala on October 23 at a depth of 64.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala on October 23 at a depth of 65.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck off the coast of Guatemala on October 23 at an unknown depth.
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the coast of Guatemala on October 23 at a depth of 65.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the coast of Guatemala on October 24 at a depth of 45.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck Retalhuleu Department, Guatemala on October 24 at a depth of 65.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck off the coast of Guatemala on October 28 at a depth of 60.0 km.

November

November

Strongest magnitude	7.7 Mw, , Indonesia
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	5

• A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on November 2 at a depth of 199.7 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Guatemala on November 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southeast of Shikoku, Japan on November 5 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands on November 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Makira, Solomon Islands on November 14 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck on the coast of Guerrero, Mexico on November 17 at a depth of 20.0 km. Some damage was reported.

December

December

Strongest magnitude	8.2 Mw, , Chile
Deadliest	6.3 Mw, , Peru 4 deaths
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	6
6.0–6.9	11

• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on December 2 at a depth of 643.3 km.
• A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Vanuatu on December 2 at a depth of 30.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.2 aftershock struck Vanuatu on December 2 at a depth of 60.0 km. This came only four minutes after the mainshock.
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on December 4 at a depth of 78.3 km.
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southeast of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on December 5 at a depth of 25.0 km.
• A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on December 9 at a depth of 113.9 km. One death was caused and at least 51 people were injured.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Ica Region, Peru on December 10 at a depth of 61.5 km. Four people were killed and 12 more injured. Some homes destroyed.
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on December 10 at a depth of 298.4 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on December 11 at a depth of 644.5 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu on December 14 at a depth of 65.0 km.
• A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Tonga on December 14 at a depth of 215.9 km.
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on December 14 at a depth of 35.0 km. Some damage was caused.
• A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck off the coast of Guerrero, Mexico on December 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Ambon Island, Indonesia on December 18 at a depth of 35.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Guerrero, Mexico on December 26 at a depth of 20.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on December 28 at a depth of 635.0 km.
• A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Xizang Province, China on December 29 at a depth of 15.0 km.

India earthquake aftershock table

• Aftershocks measuring magnitude 6.0 or greater of the India earthquake through to December 31, 1950 will be listed in the below table.

Date	Time (UTC)	Location	Depth	Magnitude
1950-08-15	18:38:48	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.2
1950-08-15	21:42:22	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.0
1950-08-16	06:42:05	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.2
1950-08-16	17:51:34	India	15.0 km (9 mi)	6.0
1950-08-17	01:54:17	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.1
1950-08-18	01:07:56	India	20.0 km (12 mi)	6.4
1950-08-18	16:58:54	China	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.1
1950-08-22	02:22:41	China	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.0
1950-08-22	13:22:25	Burma	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.1
1950-08-23	03:09:24	China	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.0
1950-08-23	18:47:03	China	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.0
1950-08-26	06:33:12	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.2
1950-09-13	11:07:41	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.2
1950-09-30	07:29:00	India	20.0 km (12 mi)	6.3
1950-10-03	23:01:58	Burma	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.0
1950-10-08	04:50:18	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.3
1950-10-29	06:02:32	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.0
1950-12-03	06:26:57	India	25.0 km (16 mi)	6.1