This is a list of earthquakes in 1972. 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. The death toll of just over 40,000 was dominated by 2 events. In April, an earthquake struck Iran resulting in 30,000 of the deaths. This was one of the worst disasters in Iranian history. Late in December, Managua, Nicaragua was severely affected by a fairly modest magnitude 6.3 event. The location however contributed to 10,000 deaths and major destruction to the city. Activity was around normal for the year with 16 events exceeding magnitude 7.0. The largest struck the Philippines in December and measured 8.0. Taiwan, the Philippines and the southwest Pacific Islands had heightened seismic activity.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Fiji on January 1 at a depth of 10.0 km.[1]
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on January 4 at a depth of 28.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[2]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck southern Xinjiang Province, China on January 15 at a depth of 10.2 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[7]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Madang Province, Papua New Guinea on January 18 at a depth of 25.7 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[8]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Madang Province, Papua New Guinea on January 19 at a depth of 20.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong). This along with the last event is an example of a doublet earthquake.[9]
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Vanuatu on January 23 at a depth of 35.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[12]
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on January 25 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[13] 1 person died and 5 homes collapsed.[14]
A magnitude 7.1 aftershock struck off the east coast of Taiwan on January 25 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[15] Some damage was caused.[16]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Fiji on January 26 at a depth of 643.0 km.[17]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu on January 28 at a depth of 125.0 km.[18]
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck offshore Ancona, Italy on February 4 at a depth of 25.0 km.[19] 1 person died and another 2 were hurt. Some damage was reported.[20]
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Bushehr Province, Iran on February 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.[23] Major damage was reported.[24]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on February 12 at a depth of 17.7 km.[25]
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on February 14 at a depth of 101.8 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[26]
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Izu Islands, Japan on February 29 at a depth of 59.8 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[27] Some damage was reported.[28]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on March 19 at a depth of 71.3 km.[31]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck San Martin Region, Peru on March 20 at a depth of 55.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very Strong).[32] 7 people were killed and 50 were injured. $20 million (1972 rate) in property damage was caused.[33]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on March 22 at a depth of 138.9 km.[34]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Fars Province, Iran on April 10 at a depth of 10.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[41] 30,000 people were killed and 1,700 were injured. Extensive property destruction was caused.[42]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on April 17 at a depth of 41.6 km.[43]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on April 21 at a depth of 85.0 km.[44]
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on April 24 at a depth of 22.2 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[45] 4 people were killed and 11 were injured. Some damage was reported.[46]
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Mindoro, Philippines on April 25 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe).[47] Some damage was reported.[48]
A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the north coast of Mindoro, Philippines on April 27 at a depth of 25.0 km.[49]
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Vanuatu on May 4 at a depth of 51.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[52]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the southwest coast of Crete,Greece on May 4 at a depth of 35.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[53]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the west coast of New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on May 5 at a depth of 30.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[54]
A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck off the west coast of Mindoro, Philippines on May 17 at a depth of 26.4 km.[55]
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Luzon, Philippines on May 22 at a depth of 35.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[56]
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Tonga on May 22 at a depth of 222.1 km.[57]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the north coast of Morotai, Indonesia on June 7 at a depth of 150.0 km.[58]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Coquimbo Region, Chile on June 8 at a depth of 45.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[59]
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Celebes Sea on June 11 at a depth of 330.8 km.[60]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kyushu, Japan on June 21 at a depth of 39.9 km.[61]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Baghlan Province, Afghanistan on June 24 at a depth of 24.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[62] 11 people were killed and 15 were injured. Many homes were damaged or destroyed.[63]
A pair of magnitude 6.0 earthquakes struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on July 30 at a depth of 10.0 km. The first had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong). The second had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[69][70]
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the coast of southeast Alaska on July 30 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[71] Some damage was reported.[72]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on August 1 at a depth of 97.7 km.[73]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on August 2 at a depth of 25.2 km.[74]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on August 4 at a depth of 45.0 km.[75]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on August 4 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was the beginning of a series of earthquakes in the area.[76]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on August 4 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[77]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on August 5 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[78]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on August 6 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[79]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Tonga on August 28 at a depth of 10.0 km.[81]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the north coast of mainland Papua New Guinea on August 30 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[82]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan on September 3 at a depth of 30.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[85] 100 deaths were caused. 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.[86]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Seram, Indonesia on September 11 at a depth of 28.6 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[93]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico on September 16 at a depth of 30.0 km.[97]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the west coast of Greece on September 17 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[98] 40 homes were destroyed.[99]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Duarte Province, Dominican Republic on September 19 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[100]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on September 22 at a depth of 25.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[101]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on September 23 at a depth of 25.0 km.[102]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck San Juan Province, Argentina on September 26 at a depth of 15.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[104]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the west coast of Halmahera, Indonesia on October 12 at a depth of 124.8 km.[106]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico on October 20 at a depth of 20.0 km.[107]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu on October 27 at a depth of 25.0 km.[108]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on October 28 at a depth of 10.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[109]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the west coast of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on October 30 at a depth of 53.2 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of V (Moderate).[110]
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia on November 2 at a depth of 20.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[111]
A magnitude 6.4 aftershock struck Vanuatu on November 4 at a depth of 20.0 km.[112]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck East Java, Indonesia on November 4 at a depth of 70.0 km.[113]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Savu Sea, Indonesia on November 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.[114]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Hualien County, Taiwan on November 9 at a depth of 22.9 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[115]
A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Mindanao, Philippines on December 2 at a depth of 60.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[118] Some damage was reported.[119]
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Izu Islands, Japan on December 4 at a depth of 55.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[120] Some damage was reported.[121]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Managua, Nicaragua on December 23 at a depth of 10.0 km. The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[123] 10,000 people were killed and over 20,000 were injured. Major property destruction was caused. Costs were around $3 billion (1972 rate).[124]