Significant Earthquakes of the World
1978
SIGNIFICANT EARTHQUAKES OF THE WORLD, 1978
Earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or greater or ones that caused fatalities, injuries or substantial damage.
BRK--Berkeley, LPZ--La Paz, PAL--Palisades, PAS--Pasadena, TRI--Trieste.
DATE ORIGIN TIME GEOGRAPHIC DEPTH MAGNITUDE REGION, ADDITIONAL MAGNITUDES AND COMMENTS
UTC COORDINATES
HR MN SEC LAT LONG
JAN 14 03:24:39.0 34.81 N 139.26 E 14 6.7 Near the South coast of Honshu, Japan
6.2mb(GS) 6.6MS(GS) 6.7MS(PAS) 6.5MS(BRK)
21 killed, 119 injured and 4 people reported missing. Damage
(V JMA) on Oshima and at Yokohama. Felt in Honshu, Shikoku
and Hokkaido. Local Tsunami observed (35 cm) on Oshima and
(12 cm) at Tateyama.
JAN 25 23:18:58.6 5.34 S 151.68 E 44 6.6 New Britain region, PNG
6.1mb(GS) 6.4MS(GS) 6.6MS(BRK) 6.4MS(PAS) 6.9mb(PAS)
Felt (VII) at Open Bay and (V) at Trabaul.
JAN 27 07:22:08.3 13.46 N 144.82 E 41 5.2 Mariana Islands
5.2mb(GS) 5.2MS(GS)
Damage (VII) on Guam.
FEB 09 21:35:12.7 30.68 S 177.36 W 33 7.7 Kermadec Islands
5.7mb(GS) 7.2MS(GS) 7.7MS(BRK) 7.2MS(PAS)
FEB 11 00:05:23.0 30.42 S 177.12 W 33 6.7 Kermadec Islands
5.5mb(GS) 6.6MS(GS) 6.7MS(BRK) 6.6MS(PAS)
FEB 15 03:17:37.3 39.69 S 39.79 E 33 4.8 Turkey
4.8mb(GS) 4.5MS(GS)
20 injured, 500 homes destroyed in the Erzincan area, and 25
homes damaged at Pulumur. Also felt strongly in the Tunceli
area.
FEB 20 04:36:58.1 38.79 N 141.05 E 60 6.1 Near east coast of Honshu, Japan
6.1mb(GS) 6.1MS(BRK) 6.0MS(PAS)
30 reported injured, damage and landslides in the Ofunato
area. Intensity (V JMA). Felt (IV JMA) in the areas of
Ishinomaki, Mito, and Morioka. Also felt strongly in large
areas of northern Honshu.
FEB 22 06:07:37.0 14.25 N 91.38 W 100 6.1 Guatemala
5.7mb(GS) 6.4mb(BRK) 6.3mb(PAS)
2 persons killed; damage reported in the areas of Coatepeque,
and Mirian; and landslides reported in Antigua. Also felt
(IV) in El Salvador.
MAR 07 02:48:47.6 32.01 N 137.61 E 439 7.0 South of Honshu, Japan
7.0mb(GS) 6.9mb(BRK) 7.0mb(PAS)
Felt (IV JAM) at Utsunomiya and (III JMA) in central and
northern Honshu and on Chichijima. Also felt (II JMA) on
Oshima and (I JMA) on Hokkaido and Shikoku.
MAR 11 19:20:49.1 38.10 N 16.03 E 33 5.6 Southern Italy
5.6mb(GS) 5.0MS(GS)
2 killed, several injured, and considerable damage in
southwestern Italy.
MAR 11 19:20:49.1 38.10 N 16.03 E 33 5.6 Southern Italy
5.6mb(GS) 5.0MS(GS)
2 killed, several injured, and considerable damage in
southwestern Italy.
MAR 15 22:04:40.1 26.42 N 140.56 E 263 6.7 Bonin Islands region
6.1mb(GS) 6.7mb(PAS)
Felt (IV JMA) on Chichijima, (II JMA) at Tokyo, and (I JMA)
at Obihiro, Choshi, Tateyama, and Yokohama, Japan.
MAR 16 02:00:00.5 29.93 N 66.30 E 33 5.9 Pakistan
5.3mb(GS) 5.9MS(GS)
1 killed and considerable damage in the Nushki area. Felt
(II) at Quetta. Also felt at Peshawar.
MAR 19 01:39:14.0 17.03 N 99.74 W 36 6.6 Near coast of Guerrero, Mexico
5.8mb(GS) 6.4MS(GS) 6.6 MS(PAS)
1 person killed, 25 injured, and damage reported in Acapulco.
Felt strongly in central Mexico.
MAR 22 00:50:32.2 44.03 N 149.00 E 33 6.7 Kuril Islands region
6.3mb(GS) 6.7MS(GS) 6.5MS(PAS) 6.4MS(BRK)
Felt (IV) at Kurilsk and (I JMA) at Nemuro.
MAR 23 00:31:02.1 44.21 N 148.97 E 46 6.8 Kuril Islands
6.1mb(GS) 6.8MS(GS) 6.6MS(BRK) 6.5MS(PAS)
Felt (V) at Kurilsk. Felt (II JMA) in Nemuro-Hirou area,
Hokkaido and at Aomuri, Honshu. Also felt (I JMA) at
Hachinohe, Honshu.
MAR 23 03:15:20.3 44.93 N 148.44 E 33 7.5 Kuril Islands
6.4mb(GS) 7.5MS(GS) 7.3MS(BRK) 7.2MS(PAS)
Felt (VI) at Kurilsk and (III JMA) at Kushiro, Hokkaido. Also
felt (II JMA) in Nemuro-Urakawa area, Hoddaido and at Aomori,
Honshu. Small tsunami reported with wave heights (center to
peak) 25 cm at Yuzhno-Kurilsk and 24 cm at Nemuro, Hokkaido.
MAR 23 19:12:23.6 44.34 N 149.74 E 33 6.8 Kuril Islands
6.0mb(GS) 6.8MS(GS) 6.6MS(PAS) 6.9mb(PAS) 6.4MS(BRK)
MAR 24 00:42:36.3 29.80 N 67.40 W 20 6.1 North Atlantic Ocean
6.1mb(GS) 5.8MS(GS) 6.1MS(BRK) 6.0MS(PAS) 6.3mb(PAS)
Felt on Bermuda. Also reported felt at Boston, Massachusetts
and in parts of North Carolina.
MAR 24 19:47:50.7 44.24 N 148.86 E 33 7.6 Kuril Islands
6.5mb(GS) 7.6MS(GS) 7.5MS(PAS) 7.2MS(BRK)
Felt (IV) at Kurilsk and (III JMA) in Nemuro-Hiroo-Obihiro
area, Hokkaido. Also felt (II JMA) in southwestern Hokkaido
and northern Honshu. Felt (I JMA) in northern Hokkaido. Small
tsunami reported along SE coast of Hokkaido, with the
following wave heights (in cm center to peak): 23 at Nemuro,
14 at Kushiro, and 10 at Hiroo.
MAR 24 21:05:48.2 42.84 N 78.61 E 33 7.1 Kyrgyzstan
6.2mb(GS) 7.1MS(GS)
Damage (VIII) in northeastern Kirgiz SSR. Seiche on Lake
Issyk-kul. Felt (VII) at Przhevalsk and (VI) at Alma-ata and
Frunze. Also felt (III) at Andizhan and (II) at Tashkent.
APR 10 20:52:18.9 11.36 S 116.69 E 33 6.7 South of Sumbawa Island
6.7mb(GS) 6.4MS(GS) 6.4MS(PAS) 6.8mb(PAS) 6.2MS(BRK)
Felt (III) on Bali.
APR 12 03:42:03.5 56.42 N 152.69 W 14 6.6 Kodiak Island region
6.0mb(GS) 6.6MS(GS) 6.5MS(BRK) 6.3MS(PAS) 6.6mb(PAS)
Felt strongly on Kodiak.
APR 13 18:05:25.8 43.27 N 20.92 E 33 4.9 Yugoslavia
4.8mb(GS) 5.7MS(GS) 4.9ML(ATH)
Considerable damage reported in the Brus area, felt (IV) at
Belgrade.
APR 15 23:33:47.2 38.39 N 15.07 E 14 5.7 Sicily
5.5mb(GS) 5.7MS(GS)
5 persons killed and 400 houses damaged.
MAY 23 07:50:28.2 31.06 N 130.14 E 165 6.3 Kyushu, Japan
6.3mb(GS) 6.4mb(BRK) 6.6mb(PAS)
Felt (IV JMA) at Miyazaki, Kyushu and Naze, Ryukyu Islands.
Felt (III JMA) in southern and eastern Kyushu, on
Tanega-shima, and in southwestern Shikoku. Also felt (II JMA)
in Hiroshima-Okayama area, Honshu.
MAY 23 23:34:11.4 40.76 N 23.29 E 10 5.4 Greece
5.7mb(GS) 5.6MS(GS) 5.4ML(ATH)
2 people injured and damage in Thessaloniki-Kavalla area.
Felt (IV) in southeastern Yugoslavia. Also felt in
southwestern Bulgaria.
MAY 24 06:16:55.4 51.23 N 179.21 W 25 6.7 Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands
6.0mb(GS) 6.7MS(GS) 6.4MS(BRK) 6.2MS(PAS) 6.4mb(PAS)
Felt (IV) on Adak.
MAY 26 23:58:22.0 24.27 N 142.66 E 33 6.8 Volcano Islands region
5.8mb(GS) 6.8MS(GS) 6.5MS(BRK) 6.8MS(PAS)
JUN 03 20:03:52.5 35.10 N 132.60 E 4 5.2 Southern Honshu, Japan
5.2mb(GS) 4.9MS(GS)
JMA Depth 0 km. 1 person injured, and damage (IV JMA) in
southern Honshu. Felt (III JMA) on Shikoku.
JUN 12 08:14:26.4 38.19 N 142.03 E 44 7.7 Near east coast of Honshu, Japan
6.8mb(GS) 7.7MS(GS) 7.2MS(BRK) 7.5MS(PAS)
22 killed, 421 injured, and extensive damage in the Sendai
area. Felt (V JMA) in many cities in central and northern
Honshu.
JUN 14 12:32:33.9 8.25 N 122.40 E 24 6.9 Mindanao, Philippine Islands
6.1mb(GS) 6.9MS(GS) 6.7MS(BRK) 6.6MS(PAS)
Felt strongly at Zamboanga.
JUN 17 15:11:33.5 17.10 S 172.26 W 33 7.2 Tonga Islands region
6.6mb(GS) 7.0MS(GS) 7.2MS(BRK)
JUN 19 10:31:05.4 40.75 N 23.22 E 10 4.9 Greece
5.3mb(GS) 4.8MS(GS) 4.9 ML(ATH)
1 person killed, 10 injured, and damage in the Thessaloniki
area. Felt strongly is S.E. Macedonia. Also felt in Bulgaria.
JUN 20 20:03:21.0 40.74 N 23.23 E 16 6.6 Greece
6.1mb(GS) 6.4MS(GS) 6.6MS(BRK) 6.5MS(PAS) 6.0ML(ATH)
50 persons killed, many injured, and considerable damage in
the Thessaloniki area. Felt throughout Bulgaria and in
southern Yugoslavia.
JUL 02 04:01:33.3 15.33 S 175.49 W 25 6.5 Tonga Islands
5.9mb(GS) 6.4MS(GS) 6.2MS(BRK) 6.5MS(PAS)
JUL 04 02:40:54.0 32.66 N 131.12 E 118 5.7 Kyushu, Japan
5.7mb(GS)
2 injured (IV JMA) on Kyushu. Felt (III JMA) in western
Shikoku.
JUL 04 22:23:28.0 40.75 N 23.06 E 19 4.6 Greece
5.1mb(GS) 4.8MS(GS) 4.6ML(ATH)
1 killed, 16 injured, and minor damage in the Thessaloniki
area.
JUL 23 14:42:36.9 22.28 N 121.51 E 17 7.4 Taiwan region
6.5mb(GS) 7.4MS(GS) 6.9MS(PAS) 7.1mb(PAS) 6.8MS(BRK)
Felt strongly on Taiwan. Also felt at Hong Kong. A small
tsunami of 10 cm height (peak to trough) was measured at
Ishigakijima, Ryukyu Islands.
JUL 29 14:37:32.7 14.84 N 91.02 W 10 4.9 Guatemala
4.9mb(GS) 4.5MS(GS)
5 people killed, many injured and considerable damage and
landslides in the Patzun area. Felt at Guatemala City.
AUG 03 18:11:17.1 26.51 S 70.54 W 58 7.0 Near coast of Northern Chile
6.3mb(GS) 7.0mb(PAS) 6.5MS(PAS) 6.6mb(BRK)
13 injured and major damage (IX) in the Copiapo-Taltal area.
AUG 03 23:25:32.1 0.17 S 131.80 E 33 6.1 West Irian region
5.9mb(GS) 6.1MS(GS) 6.6MS(PAS)
AUG 13 22:54:53.5 34.35 N 119.70 W 7 5.7 Southern California
5.5mb(GS) 5.6MS(GS) 5.7ML(BRK) 5.1ML(PAS)
12 to 15 million dollars damage in Santa Barbara-Goleta area.
Maximum intensity VII in Santa Barbara County. Also felt in
San Luis Obispo, Kern, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties.
AUG 18 15:35:17.8 14.37 N 91.45 W 96 5.7 Guatemala
5.5mb(GS) 6.1mb(PAS) 5.7mb(BRK)
Reported injuries and damage in western Guatemala. Felt (V)
at Guatemala City and San Salvador, El Salvador.
AUG 23 00:38:32.2 10.20 N 82.22 W 56 7.2 Costa Rica
5.7mb(GS) 7.0MS(GS) 7.2MS(BRK) 6.6MS(PAS) 6.8mb(PAS)
Minor damage at Santa Cruz. Felt Strongly at San Jose and
southern Nicaragua.
SEP 02 01:57:33.4 24.90 N 121.99 E 101 6.1 Taiwan Region
6.1mb(GS) 5.9mb(BRK)
Several persons injured and minor damage reported on Taipei.
SEP 03 05:08:30.2 48.29 N 9.01 E 8 5.9 Germany
4.9mb(GS) 5.3MS(GS) 5.9ML(GRF) 5.4ML(TRI)
Several reported injured, considerable damage in the
Tailfingen-Onstmettingen area, and damage reported to the
Hohenzollern Castle near Hechingen. Maximum intensity MM
(VIII). Felt throughout southwestern Germany and Alsace,
France. Also felt in Austria and Switzerland.
SEP 16 15:35:56.6 33.39 N 57.43 E 33 7.8 Iran
6.5mb(GS) 7.4MS(GS) 7.8MS(BRK)
Estimated death toll 15,000. Extensive damage was reported in
Tabas and other surrounding areas.
NOV 01 19:48:28.0 39.35 N 72.62 E 40 6.8 Kirgiz SSR
6.2mb(GS) 6.8MS(GS) 6.8MS(PAS)
Felt (VI) in the Osh-Andizhan area, and (V) at Tashkent.
NOV 04 22:29:22.1 11.23 S 162.18 E 33 6.9 Solomon Islands
5.8mb(GS) 6.9MS(GS) 6.8MS(BRK) 6.8MS(PAS)
Felt on San Cristobal and Guadacanal. This appears to be a
multiple event with the second event about 10 seconds later
being the larger.
NOV 05 22:02:07.1 11.13 S 162.14 E 33 7.4 Solomon Islands
6.3mb(GS) 7.1MS(GS) 7.4MS(BRK) 7.4MS(PAS)
Felt strongly on San Cristobal and (IV) at Honiara,
Guadalcanal.
NOV 29 19:52:47.6 16.01 N 96.59 W 18 7.9 Oaxaca, Mexico
6.4mb(GS) 7.7MS(GS) 7.9MS(BRK) 7.5MS(PAS) 7.8mb(PAS)
Eight people killed, many injured, and extensive damage in
the Mexico City area. One person killed, several injured and
damage in the state of Oaxaca. Felt throughout southern
Mexico and in Guatemala and El Salvador.
NOV 29 19:52:47.6 16.01 N 96.59 W 18 7.9 Oaxaca, Mexico
6.4mb(GS) 7.7MS(GS) 7.9MS(BRK) 7.5MS(PAS) 7.8mb(PAS)
Eight people killed, many injured, and extensive damage in
the Mexico City area. One person killed, several injured and
damage in the state of Oaxaca. Felt throughout southern
Mexico and in Guatemala and El Salvador.
DEC 06 14:02:01.0 44.59 N 146.58 E 91 7.5 Kuril Islands
6.7mb(GS) 7.4mb(LPZ) 7.3mb(BRK) 7.5mb(PAS)
Damage reported (VIII) in the southern Kuril Islands, USSR,
and minor damage (IV JMA) on Hokkaido, Japan. Felt in
southern Sakhalin Island, USSR.
DEC 12 11:44:16.0 7.33 N 123.49 E 33 7.4 Mindanao, Philippine Islands
6.2mb(GS) 6.9MS(GS) 7.4MS(BRK) 6.9MS(PAS)
Felt (IV RF) at Dipolog and Zamboanga and (III RF) on other
parts of the Island. Also felt on Jolo, Negros, and Danay.
DEC 14 07:05:20.6 32.14 N 49.65 E 33 6.2 Western Iran
5.7mb(GS) 6.2MS(GS)
76 people killed and some injured in the areas of Izeh and
Masjed-e-Soleyman. Considerable damage was also reported.
DEC 23 11:23:12.0 23.25 N 122.08 E 33 7.2 Taiwan Region
6.6mb(GS) 7.0MS(GS) 6.8MS(BRK) 7.2mb(PAS) 6.7MS(PAS)
2 people killed and three injured at Pingtung, Taiwan. Felt
(V) at Hong Kong, (III JMA) on Ishigakijima and Iriomotejima,
Ryukyu Islands and (II JMA) on Yonagunijima and Miyakojima,
Ryukyu Islands.
DEC 25 23:57:55.0 10.37 N 103.87 W 10 6.5 Off coast of Mexico
5.8mb(GS) 6.5MS(GS) 6.5MS(BRK) 6.2MS(PAS) 6.3mb(PAS)
2005/09/07 12:22:59
