Today in Earthquake History

Today's Earthquake Fact:
During an earthquake: If you are in a high-rise building, get under a sturdy desk, away from windows and outside walls. Stay in the building on the same floor, an evacuation may not be necessary. Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. Do not use the elevators.

Year at a Glance

May

Note: All earthquake dates are UTC, not local time.

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Year	Location	Magnitude	Comment

1984	Southern Italy	6.0	Three people killed, at least 100 injured, and extensive damage (VIII) in the Abruzzo area. Felt throughout southern Italy. From Significant Earthquakes of the World, 1984.

1986	Andreanof Islands, Alaska	7.9	One of the Largest Earthquakes in the United States. Multiple event. Damage (VI) on Adak and Atka. Tsunami generated with observed wave heights 91 to 122 cm at Kapaa, Kauai and 61 to 91 cm at Hanalei, Kauai and along the coast of Washington. Maximum recorded wave heights at selected tide stations were as follows: 175 cm at Adak, 25 cm at Unalaska and 10 cm at Sand Point, Alaska; 55 cm at Hilo, 36 cm at Kahului and 27 cm at Honolulu, Hawaii; 45 cm at Coquimbo and 15 cm at Valparaiso, Chile; 46 cm at Kushiro, Hokkaido; 24 cm at Chichi-shima, Bonin Islands; 40 cm at Port Lyttleton, New Zealand; 12 cm at Crescent City, California; 10 cm at Wake Island and 5 cm at Apia, Samoa. Negative tsunami reports were received from Bering Island, USSR; San Francisco, California and Ponape, Caroline Islands.

1989	Burma-China Border Region	5.6	At least one person killed, 91 injured and 5,300 houses destroyed in the Gengma area, China. Felt strongly in Lancang and Menglian Counties. Direct economic losses of more than 54 million U.S. dollars were sustained. From Significant Earthquakes of the World, 1989.

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