Today in Earthquake History

On January 16th...

• M6.9 - Kobe, Japan, 1995

  January 16 20:46 UTC
  Local time January 17 05:46

  Five thousand five hundred two people confirmed killed, 36,896 injured and extensive damage (VII JMA) in the Kobe area and on Awaji-shima. Over 90 percent of the casualties occurred along the southern coast of Honshu between Kobe and Nishinomiya. At least 28 people were killed by a landslide at Nishinomiya. About 310,000 people were evacuated to temporary shelters. Over 200,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. Numerous fires, gas and water main breaks and power outages occurred in the epicentral area. Felt (VII JMA) along a coastal strip extending from Suma Ward, Kobe to Nishinomiya and in the Ichinomiya area on Awaji-shima; (V JMA) at Hikone, Kyoto and Toyooka; (IV JMA) at Nara, Okayama, Osaka and Wakayama; (V) at Iwakuni. Also felt (IV JMA) at Takamatsu, Shikoku. Right-lateral surface faulting was observed for 9 kilometers with horizontal displacement of 1.2 to 1.5 meters in the northern part of Awaji-shima. Liquefaction also occurred in the epicentral area.

• M4.6 - Pennsylvania, 1994

  Some damage in the Reading area. Felt (V) at Fleetwood, Hamburg and Wernersville; (IV) at Auburn, Bechtelsville, Bernville, Blue Ball, Conestoga, Denver, Douglassville, Ephrata, Exton, Gap, Honey Brook, Leola, Myerstown, Newmanstown, Orwigsburg, Parkesburg, Pequea, Pine Grove, Richland, Schaefferstown, Shoemakersville, Silver Spring, Temple and Willow Street. Felt throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and as far as Baltimore, Maryland and New York City. Also felt at Toronto, Canada.

• M6.9 - Eastern Iran, 1979

  At least 200 people reported killed, many injured, and considerable damage in Bonzonabad and surrounding areas.
  From Significant Earthquakes of the World 1979.