Today in Earthquake History

On May 26th...

• M6.3 - Java, Indonesia, 2006

  At least 5,749 people were killed, 38,568 were injured and as many as 600,000 people were displaced in the Bantul-Yogyakarta area. More than 127,000 houses were destroyed and an additional 451,000 were damaged in the area, with the total loss estimated at approximately 3.1 billion U.S. dollars. Felt (IX) at Bantul and Klaten, (VIII) at Sleman and Yogyakarta, (V) at Surakarta, (IV) at Salatiga and Blitar and (II) at Surabaya. Felt in much of Java. Also felt at Denpasar, Bali.

• M7.8 - Near West Coast of Honshu, Japan, 1983

  At least 104 people killed, some injured, and extensive damage to dwellings, roads, and vessels caused by earthquake and a tsunami along the Japan Sea coast from southern Hokkaido to the Niigata area, Honshu. Many of the casualties and much of the damage occurred on the Oga Peninsula. Tsunami damage occurred as far away as Yamaguchi Prefecture in southwestern Honshu, along the Japan Sea coast of USSR, and along the eastern and southern coasts of South Korea, where three additional people were killed. Felt (V JMA) at Akita. Felt on Hokkaido and throughout northern and central Honshu. Estimated tsunami heights were 14 meters at Minehama, Honshu, 2-6 meters along southern Hokkaido and northern Honshu, up to 8 meters along the coast of USSR, and 4 meters along the coast of South Korea.

• M5.1 - Aurora, Illinois, 1909

  This earthquake knocked over many chimneys at Aurora. It was felt over 500,000 square miles and strongly felt in Iowa and Wisconsin. Buildings swayed in Chicago where there was fear that the walls would collapse. Beds moved on their casters.