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Earthquakes in 1937 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1937
Strongest magnitude China , Qinghai Province (Magnitude 7.8) January 7Deadliest China , Shandong Province (Magnitude 6.9) July 31 390 deathsTotal fatalities 497 9.0+ 0
This is a list of earthquakes in 1937 . 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 death toll of 497 was the lowest since 1921 . China once again bore the brunt of the deadly events. The largest magnitude event was a 7.8 in January in China . Activity was fairly scattered across the planet with China , Indonesia , Mexico , South America , the southern Pacific Ocean islands and Alaska seeing large (7.0+ magnitude) events.
Overall
By death toll
Note : At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
7.8
0
China , Qinghai Province
X (Extreme )
15.0
January 7
2
7.5
1
Philippines , Luzon
VIII (Severe )
15.0
August 20
= 3
7.4
0
Russia , Kuril Islands
( )
30.0
February 21
= 3
7.4
4
Mexico , Guerrero
( )
25.0
December 23
= 4
7.3
0
Fiji
( )
330.0
April 16
= 4
7.3
34
Mexico , Veracruz
( )
90.0
July 26
= 4
7.3
0
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
( )
120.0
September 3
= 5
7.2
0
Solomon Islands
( )
15.0
January 25
= 5
7.2
0
United Kingdom , South Sandwich Islands
( )
95.0
September 8
= 5
7.2
0
Afghanistan , Badakhshan Province
VII (Very strong )
200.0
November 14
= 6
7.1
0
Peru , off the coast of northern
( )
30.0
June 21
= 6
7.1
0
Ecuador , Pastaza Province
( )
175.0
July 19
= 6
7.1
0
Indonesia , Bali Sea
( )
610.0
August 11
7
7.0
0
United States , central Alaska
VIII (Severe )
10.0
July 22
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
January Strongest magnitude 7.8 Mw China Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 4
February
February Strongest magnitude 7.4 Mw Russia Deadliest 5.4 Mw Algeria 1+ deaths Total fatalities 1+ 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 0 5.0–5.9 1
March
March Strongest magnitude 6.6 Mw Peru Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 5
April
April Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Fiji Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 4
May
May Strongest magnitude 6.5 Mw 5 events Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 7
June
June Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Peru Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2
July
July Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Mexico Deadliest 6.9 Mw China 390 deaths Total fatalities 424 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 3 6.0–6.9 10
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1 [ 35]
Indonesia , north of Simeulue
6.3
30.0
2 [ 36]
Vanuatu
6.5
35.0
4 [ 37]
Solomon Islands
6.5
15.0
Doublet earthquake
4 [ 38]
Solomon Islands
6.6
15.0
9 [ 39]
Peru , Arequipa Region
6.0
180.0
15 [ 40]
Russia , off the east coast of Kamchatka
6.5
140.0
18 [ 41] [ 42]
United States , Fox Islands (Alaska)
6.3
70.0
I
19 [ 43]
Ecuador , Pastaza Province
7.1
175.0
21 [ 44]
Russia , south of Sakhalin
6.0
400.0
22 [ 45] [ 46]
United States , central Alaska
7.0
10.0
VIII
Some minor damage was reported.
26 [ 47] [ 48]
Mexico , Veracruz
7.3
90.0
34 people were killed in the 1937 Orizaba earthquake . Some damage was caused.
34
26 [ 49]
Japan , off the east coast of Honshu
6.6
35.0
31 [ 50] [ 51]
China , Shandong Province
6.9
25.0
IX
390 deaths were reported and at least 101 people were injured. Many homes were wrecked.
390
101+
August
September
September Strongest magnitude 7.2 Mw 2 events Deadliest 5.0 Mw China 51 deaths Total fatalities 52+ 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 9 5.0–5.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1 [ 60]
New Zealand , south of the Kermadec Islands
6.5
45.0
3 [ 61] [ 62]
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
7.2
80.0
I
4 [ 63]
Fiji
6.5
35.0
8 [ 64]
United Kingdom , South Sandwich Islands
7.2
95.0
15 [ 65]
China , Shanxi Province
5.0
0.0
VII
At least 51 people died and many homes were destroyed.
51+
15 [ 66]
Solomon Islands
6.7
35.0
21 [ 67]
Laos , Oudomxay Province
6.0
35.0
21 [ 68]
Indonesia , Molucca Sea
6.7
50.0
23 [ 69]
Papua New Guinea , southwest of Bougainville Island
6.9
35.0
24 [ 70]
Chile , Antofagasta Region
6.0
130.0
27 [ 71] [ 72]
Indonesia , south of Java
6.8
55.0
IX
1 person was killed. 326 homes were destroyed and a further 2,200 were damaged.
1
28 [ 73]
Indonesia , south of Minahassa Peninsula , Sulawesi
6.5
200.0
October
October Strongest magnitude 6.7 Mw Mexico Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 6
November
November Strongest magnitude 7.2 Mw Afghanistan Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 5
December
December Strongest magnitude 7.4 Mw Mexico Deadliest 6.3 Mw Peru 15 deaths Total fatalities 19 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 8
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
8 [ 88] [ 89]
Taiwan , Taitung County
6.9
15.0
1 person was hurt and 5 homes collapsed.
1
12 [ 90]
Chile , Antofagasta Region
6.0
60.0
13 [ 91]
Taiwan , off the east coast
6.7
15.0
16 [ 92]
Greece , south of Crete
6.5
100.0
17 [ 93]
Taiwan , Taitung County
6.6
15.0
18 [ 94]
Uzbekistan , Tashkent Region
6.5
15.0
23 [ 95] [ 96]
Mexico , Guerrero
7.4
25.0
4 deaths were reported.
4
24 [ 97] [ 98]
Peru , Pasco Region
6.3
15.0
X
15 people died and some damage was caused.
15
25 [ 99]
Russia , Irkutsk Oblast
6.0
35.0
26 [ 100]
El Salvador , La Libertad Department (El Salvador)
0.0
0.0
Major damage was caused. The magnitude and depth were unknown.
References
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 4, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 - southeast of Shikoku, Japan" . United States Geological Survey . January 5, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 7.8 - southern Qinghai, China" . United States Geological Survey . January 7, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: QINGHAI PROVINCE" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 7, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 11, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: NICARAGUA: CHINANDEGA,PORT CORINTO" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 12, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 - New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey . January 23, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 - Solomon Islands" . United States Geological Survey . January 25, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ALGERIA: GUELMA, LAPAINE" . National Geophysical Data Center . February 10, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 7.4 - Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey . February 21, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: RUSSIA: KURIL ISLANDS" . National Geophysical Data Center . February 21, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 - Costa Rica" . United States Geological Survey . March 9, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 - near the coast of Antofagasta, Chile" . United States Geological Survey . March 14, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . March 19, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.0 - 16km WSW of Oasis, CA" . United States Geological Survey . March 25, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.0 - 16km WSW of Oasis, CA" . United States Geological Survey . March 25, 1937. Retrieved August 10, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . March 29, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 2, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 - near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey . April 5, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 - Fiji region" . United States Geological Survey . April 16, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 - Alaska Peninsula" . United States Geological Survey . April 29, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 - Alaska Peninsula" . United States Geological Survey . April 29, 1937. Retrieved August 18, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 29, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 10, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 13, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 21, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: KERAVIA, RABAUL, KOKOPO" . National Geophysical Data Center . May 28, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 28, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 28, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 31, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 31, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 8, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 8, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 - near the coast of northern Peru" . United States Geological Survey . June 21, 1937. Retrieved May 15, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 - off the west coast of northern Sumatra" . United States Geological Survey . July 1, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 - Vanuatu" . United States Geological Survey . July 2, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 - Solomon Islands" . United States Geological Survey . July 4, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 - Santa Cruz Islands region" . United States Geological Survey . July 4, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 9, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 15, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 - Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey . July 18, 1937. Retrieved August 18, 2019 .
^ "M 6.3 - Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey . July 18, 1937. Retrieved August 18, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 19, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 21, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 - Central Alaska" . United States Geological Survey . July 22, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 - Central Alaska" . United States Geological Survey . July 22, 1937. Retrieved August 18, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 26, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: MEXICO: CENTRAL, PUEBLA: ESPERANZA, VERACRUZ" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 26, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 - near the east coast of Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey . July 26, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 - Henan-Shandong border region, China" . United States Geological Survey . July 31, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: SHANDONG PROVINCE" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 31, 1937. Retrieved May 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 - Henan-Shandong border region, China" . United States Geological Survey . August 1, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 4, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 5, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 8, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 - Bali Sea" . United States Geological Survey . August 11, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 7.5 - Luzon, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey . August 20, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: LUZON" . National Geophysical Data Center . August 20, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 - Myanmar" . United States Geological Survey . August 31, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 - south of the Kermadec Islands" . United States Geological Survey . September 1, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey . September 3, 1937. Retrieved August 25, 2019 .
^ "M 7.2 - Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey . September 3, 1937. Retrieved August 25, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 4, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 8, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: SHANXI PROVINCE" . National Geophysical Data Center . September 15, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 - Solomon Islands" . United States Geological Survey . September 15, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 21, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 21, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 - Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey . September 23, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 24, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 - Java, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey . September 27, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: INDONESIA: JAVA: JOGYAKARTA: KLUMPIT,PRAMBANAN" . National Geophysical Data Center . September 27, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 28, 1937. Retrieved May 18, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: MEXICO: CHILPANCINGO,TIXTLA" . National Geophysical Data Center . October 5, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 6, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 12, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 - near the east coast of Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey . October 17, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 23, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 27, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 29, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . November 1, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . November 14, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: AFGHANISTAN: HINDU KUSH" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 14, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 - Kashmir-Xinjiang border region" . United States Geological Survey . November 15, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . November 26, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 - Kepulauan Batu, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey . November 28, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 - Lake Rudolf region, Kenya-Ethiopia" . United States Geological Survey . November 30, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 - Taiwan region" . United States Geological Survey . December 8, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: TAIWAN: TAIDONG" . National Geophysical Data Center . December 8, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . December 12, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 - Taiwan region" . United States Geological Survey . December 13, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . December 16, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 - Taiwan" . United States Geological Survey . December 17, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 - eastern Uzbekistan" . United States Geological Survey . December 18, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 7.4 - Guerrero, Mexico" . United States Geological Survey . December 23, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: MEXICO: GUERRERO: OMETEPEC" . National Geophysical Data Center . December 23, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 - central Peru" . United States Geological Survey . December 24, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PERU: HUANCABAMBA,OXAPAMPA,EL PROGRESO,SAN DAVID" . National Geophysical Data Center . December 24, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . December 25, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: EL SALVADOR: AHUACHAPAN,ATIQUIZAYA,TURIN,LA PUERTA" . National Geophysical Data Center . December 26, 1937. Retrieved May 19, 2016 .