Strongest magnitude | 8.2 Mw Indonesia |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw China 322 deaths |
Total fatalities | 582 |
Number by magnitude | |
9.0+ | 0 |
← 1995 1997 → |
This is a list of earthquakes in 1996. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time.
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 322 | 6.6 | China, Yunnan | X (Extreme) | 11.0 | February 3 |
2 | 108 | 8.1 | Indonesia, Biak Island | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | February 17 |
3 | 26 | 6.4 | China, Inner Mongolia | VIII (Severe) | 26.0 | May 3 |
4 | 14 | 7.7 | Peru, Nazca | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | November 12 |
5 | 12 | 7.4 | Peru, Chimbote | IV (Light) | 10.0 | February 21 |
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8.2 | 166 | Indonesia, Biak Region offshore | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | February 17 |
2 | 7.9 | 0 | United States, Alaska, Aleutian Islands offshore | VII (Very Strong) | 33.0 | June 10 |
2 | 7.9 | 9 | Indonesia, Sulawesi offshore | X (Extreme) | 24.0 | January 1 |
2 | 7.9 | 0 | Indonesia, Flores Sea offshore | IV (Light) | 587.3 | June 17 |
5 | 7.7 | 14 | Peru, Nazca offshore | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | November 12 |
6 | 7.4 | 0 | Fiji Region offshore | II (Weak) | 550.2 | August 5 |
7 | 7.3 | 0 | United States, Alaska, Aleutian Islands offshore | VII (Very Strong) | 26.3 | June 10 |
8 | 7.2 | 0 | Russia, Kuril Islands offshore | VI (Strong) | 42.6 | February 7 |
8 | 7.2 | 0 | Fiji Region offshore | I (Not Felt) | 110.9 | April 16 |
8 | 7.2 | 1 | Papua New Guinea, Bougainville Island offshore | VIII (Severe) | 44.0 | April 29 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | Philippines, Eastern Visayas offshore | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | June 11 |
11 | 7.1 | 0 | Mexico, Oaxaca offshore | VII (Very Strong) | 21.1 | February 25 |
13 | 7.0 | 0 | Mid-Atlantic Ridge | I (Not Felt) | 10.0 | June 2 |
13 | 7.0 | 0 | Indonesia, Sulawesi offshore | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | July 22 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.9 Mw Indonesia |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.9 Mw Indonesia 9 deaths |
Total fatalities | 9 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1[1] | Tonga offshore, 65 km S of Pangai | 6.0 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
1[2] | Indonesia offshore, 181 km North of Palu | 7.9 | 24.0 | X | The 1996 Sulawesi earthquake damaged 350 buildings and created a tsunami up to 4 m (13 ft), 9 people were Killed and 67 people were injured. | 9 | 67 |
1[3] | Russia, 106 km Northeast of Yelizovo | 6.6 | 33.0 | VII | - | - | - |
8[4] | Russia, Sakhalinskaya Oblast | 5.6 | 7.8 | VII | Fourteen houses were damaged at Okha. | - | - |
17[5] | Indonesia, Papua Region | 6.1 | 109.1 | V | - | - | - |
22[6] | South Sandwich Islands region | 6.2 | 10.1 | I | - | - | - |
27[7] | Philippines, Surigao del Sur | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
30[8] | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands offshore | 6.1 | 14.2 | I | - | - | - |
30[9] | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands offshore | 6.4 | 33.0 | IV | - | - | - |
31[10] | Russia, Kuril Islands | 6.0 | 20.6 | III | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 8.2 Mw Indonesia |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw China 322 deaths |
Total fatalities | 495 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
6.0–6.9 | 3 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1[11] | Russia, offshore, 93 km Northeast of Otrada | 6.2 | 170.0 | V | - | - | - |
3[12] | China, 47 km North of Lijiang | 6.6 | 11.1 | X | The 1996 Lijiang earthquake left over 1 million buildings damaged or destroyed, this left 322 people dead and 16,925 injured, about 3,000 of them seriously. | 322 | 16,925 |
7[13] | Indonesia, Central Sulawesi | 6.1 | 13.8 | VI | - | - | - |
7[14] | Russia, Offshore, 158 km east of Kamchatka | 7.2 | 42.6 | VI | Some damage was reported. | - | - |
7[15] | Russia, Offshore, 176 km SE of Kuril’sk | 6.0 | 33.0 | II | - | - | - |
9[16] | Papua New Guinea, 89 km NNW of Lae | 6.1 | 68.5 | V | - | - | - |
12 | Indonesia, offshore, 232 km SW of Waingapu | 6.1 | 8.0 | I | - | - | - |
16[17] | North of Ascension Island | 6.6 | 10.6 | I | - | - | - |
16[18] | Tonga, offshore, 96 km NE of Hihifo | 6.0 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
16[19] | Japan, offshore, 123 km East of Namie | 6.7 | 40.8 | VI | At least 4 people were Injured. | - | 4 |
17[20] | Indonesia, offshore, 101 km Northeast of Biak | 8.1 | 33.0 | IX | The 1996 Biak earthquake caused severe damage mostly by a 7-meter (23 ft) high tsunami, 166 people were Killed and 423 people were injured. | 166 | 423 |
21[21] | Peru, Ancash offshore | 7.5 | 10.0 | VI | 7 people were killed and 2 more people were injured due to a tsunami off the coast after the 1996 Chimbote earthquake. | 7 | 2 |
25[22] | Mexico, Oaxaca offshore | 7.1 | 21.1 | VII | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw United States |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw Ecuador 27 deaths |
Total fatalities | 51 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
3[23] | Nicaragua, Managua offshore | 6.6 | 33.0 | VI | Doublet earthquake, some buildings were damaged in Managua. | - | - |
3[24] | 6.7 | 33.0 | VII | - | - | ||
17[25] | Vanuatu, Port-Olry offshore | 6.7 | 164.4 | V | - | - | - |
19[26] | China, Xinjiang | 6.3 | 28.2 | VI | At least 24 people were killed, 128 were injured and more than 15,314 houses were damaged or destroyed in Artux. | 24 | 128 |
22[27] | United States, Alaska, Rat Islands offshore | 6.8 | 20.4 | I | - | - | - |
28[28] | Ecuador, Cotopaxi | 6.0 | 33.0 | VI | At least 27 people were killed, about 100 were injured, several thousand were left homeless and considerable damage and destruction to homes occurred. | 27 | 100 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw Fiji 7.2 Mw Papua New Guinea |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.2 Mw Papua New Guinea 1 death |
Total fatalities | 1 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
6.0–6.9 | 1 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
16[29] | Fiji Islands offshore | 7.2 | 110.9 | I | - | - | - |
19[30] | Chile, Antofagasta | 6.6 | 49.5 | VII | - | - | - |
29[31] | Papua New Guinea, Bougainville Island | 7.2 | 44.0 | VIII | One person was killed and several dozen houses collapsed in Bougainville. | 1 | - |
Strongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw Papua New Guinea |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw China 26 deaths |
Total fatalities | 26 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2[32] | Papua New Guinea, Bougainville Island offshore | 6.6 | 500.0 | III | - | - | - |
3[33] | China, Inner Mongolia | 6.0 | 26.0 | VII | At least 26 people were killed, 453 were injured and extensive damage caused by the 1996 Baotou earthquake | 26 | 453 |
3[34] | United States, Washington | 5.4 | 3.8 | VIII | Two people were injured and slight damage occurred in the epicentral area. | - | 2 |
Strongest magnitude | 7.9 Mw United States 7.9 Mw Indonesia |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 5 |
6.0–6.9 | 2 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | |||||||
1[35] | China, Inner Mongolia | 5.2 | 10.0 | V | Some houses were damaged in Tianzhu county. | - | - | |
2[36] | Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 7.0 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - | |
10[37] | Vanuatu, Ureparapara offshore | 6.7 | 200.1 | IV | - | - | - | |
10[38] | United States, Alaska, Aleutian Islands offshore | 7.9 | 33.0 | VIII | A tsunami was observed with heights up to 1.02 m (3.3 ft) in Adak Island. | - | - | |
10[39] | 7.3 | 26.3 | VII | It was an aftershock of the 7.9 earthquake that same day. | - | - | ||
11[40] | Philippines, Eastern Visayas offshore | 7.1 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - | |
17[41] | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 7.9 | 587.3 | IV | Some damage occurred at Kupang. | - | - | |
21[42] | Russia, Kamchatka offshore | 6.7 | 20.0 | IV | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw Indonesia |
---|---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 11 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
6[43] | Mariana Islands region | 6.2 | 241.1 | I | - | - | - |
15[44] | Northern Mariana Islands, Pagan region | 6.3 | 176.5 | I | - | - | - |
15[45] | Mexico, Guerrero | 6.8 | 18.3 | VI | Felt strongly in Acapulco and Mexico City. | - | - |
16[46] | Russia, Kamchatka Peninsula | 6.5 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
16[47] | Indonesia, Palu, Central Sulawesi | 6.6 | 33.0 | VI | Some damage in Tolitoli. | - | - |
20[48] | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | 6.2 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
22[49] | Indonesia, Palu, Central Sulawesi | 7.0 | 33.0 | VI | Some damage in Tolitoli. | - | - |
23[50] | South of the Fiji Islands | 6.5 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
23[51] | South of the Fiji Islands | 6.2 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
25[52] | Southern East Pacific Rise | 6.1 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
28[53] | Indonesia, Palu, Central Sulawesi | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
30[54] | Philippines, Sabang | 6.1 | 33.0 | V | Some damage in Palawan. | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw Fiji |
---|---|
Deadliest | 0 |
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
2[55] | Solomon Islands, Kirakira | 6.9 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
5[56] | Tonga, 104 km NE of Hihifo | 6.7 | 41.2 | III | - | - | - |
5[57] | Ecuador, Salinas | 6.3 | 33.0 | VI | Felt in Guayas and Manabi Provinces. | - | - |
5[58] | Fiji | 7.4 | 550.2 | II | - | - | - |
10[59] | Papua New Guinea, Kokopo | 6.2 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
10[60] | Japan, Akite Prefecture | 6.0 | 10.0 | VI | Six people injured in northeastern Yamagata Prefecture. Four people injured and fifteen houses damaged in Miyagi Prefecture. | - | 10 |
11[61] | Vanuatu, 107 km WNW of Sola | 6.1 | 99.8 | V | - | - | - |
12[62] | Molucca Sea | 6.0 | 42.3 | I | - | - | - |
15[63] | Vanuatu, 99 km NW of Sola | 6.2 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
19[64] | Alaska, Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands | 6.0 | 33.0 | III | - | - | - |
19[65] | South Indian Ocean | 6.1 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
22[66] | Flores Sea | 6.0 | 595.7 | I | - | - | - |
27[67] | Mid-Indian Ridge | 6.0 | 10.0 | I |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw Chile |
---|---|
Deadliest | 0 |
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 13 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4[68] | Costa Rica, Quepos | 6.2 | 32.5 | VI | - | - | - |
5[69] | Easter Island region | 6.9 | 10.0 | I | Local tsunami generated with maximum recorded wave heights (peak-to-trough) of 18 cm on Easter Island. | - | - |
5[70] | Easter Island region | 6.2 | 10.0 | I | Aftershock from the 6.9 the hour prior | - | - |
5[71] | Croatia, Ston–Slano | 6.0 | 10.0 | VII | Several people injured, 2,000 left homeless and extensive damage (VIII) in the Ston-Slano area, Croatia. | - | 2 |
5[72] | Taiwan, Lan Yun | 6.8 | 20.0 | VI | - | - | - |
6[73] | Solomon Sea | 6.2 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
9[74] | Chile, Coquimbo Region | 6.0 | 39.0 | VI | Some adobe houses damaged in the epicentral area. | - | - |
11[75] | Japan, Chiba Prefecture | 6.2 | 55.0 | VI | - | - | - |
14[76] | Solomon Islands, Lata | 6.4 | 72.7 | VI | - | - | - |
20[77] | Philippines, Surigao del Sur | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI | Foreshock to the 6.6 three hours later. | - | - |
20[78] | Philippines, Surigao del Sur | 6.6 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
20[79] | Philippines, Surigao del Sur | 6.1 | 33.0 | V | An aftershock to the 6.6 earlier in the day. | - | - |
28[80] | Philippines, Surigao del Norte | 6.3 | 234.8 | IV | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw Fiji |
---|---|
Deadliest | 6.8 Mw Cyprus |
Total fatalities | 2 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 14 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1[81] | Owen Fracture Zone | 6.4 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
2[82] | Eastern Samar | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
2[83] | Russia, Kuril Islands | 6.0 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
6[84] | Canada, Vancouver | 6.2 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
8[85] | Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge | 6.1 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
9[86] | Cyprus | 6.8 | 33.0 | VI | One person died of a heart attack and twenty others injured on Cyprus. One person killed in Egypt. Felt in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. | 2 | 20 |
10[87] | Indonesia, North Sumatra | 6.3 | 33.0 | VI | Felt as far away as Malaysia. | - | - |
12[88] | Papua New Guinea, Bouganville | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | Foreshock to the 6.8 two days later. | - | - |
14[89] | Papua New Guinea, Bouganville | 6.8 | 24.0 | VI | - | - | - |
17[90] | Philippines, Davao Occidental | 6.0 | 116.8 | IV | - | - | - |
18[91] | Japan, Kagoshima Prefecture | 6.6 | 10.0 | VII | Local tsunami generated with wave heights up to 17 cm recorded on Tanega-shima. | - | - |
19[92] | Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture | 6.7 | 22.0 | VII | Tsunami generated with recorded wave heights of 110 cm at Miyazaki, 40 cm at Nichinan and 14 cm on Tanega-shima. Minor tsunami also observed on Shikoku. | - | - |
19[93] | Fiji region | 6.9 | 590.8 | I | - | - | - |
24[94] | Russia, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug | 6.1 | 19.9 | VII | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw Peru |
---|---|
Deadliest | 7.7 Mw Peru |
Total fatalities | 14 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
6.0–6.9 | 17 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
4[95] | Colombia, Choco | 6.3 | 14.0 | VII | - | - | - |
5[96] | New Zealand, Kermadec Island Region | 6.8 | 369.4 | V | - | - | - |
5[97] | Philippines, Surigao del Nortel | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
6[98] | Japan, Bonin Islands | 6.6 | 9.0 | I | - | - | - |
7[99] | Philippines, Surigao del Nortel | 6.1 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
11[100] | New Zealand, Kermadec Island Region | 6.2 | 33.0 | I | Aftershock from the 6.8 six days prior. | - | - |
11[101] | Myanmar, Magway | 6.0 | 80.0 | V | - | - | - |
12[102] | Peru, Ica | 7.7 | 33.0 | VII | At least 14 people killed, 560 injured and 12,000 homeless from Chincha Alta to Acari. Over 4,000 houses damaged or destroyed at Nazca. Tsunami generated with maximum recorded wave heights (peak-to-trough) of 25 cm at Callao, Peru; 35 cm at Arica and 21 cm at Caldera, Chile. | 14 | 560 |
13[103] | Peru, Ica | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | An aftershock of the 7.7 the day prior. | - | - |
13[104] | Peru, Ica | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | An aftershock of the 7.7 the day prior. | - | - |
14[105] | Solomon Islands | 6.0 | 109.2 | I | - | - | - |
14[106] | Tonga region | 6.2 | 191.6 | I | - | - | - |
16[107] | France, Wallis and Futuna | 6.0 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
17[108] | Nicaragua, Rivas | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
17[109] | Fiji region | 6.1 | 591.6 | I | - | - | - |
19[110] | India, Ladakh | 6.9 | 33.0 | VII | - | - | - |
20[111] | Japan, Izu Islands | 6.1 | 33.0 | III | Felt in Tokyo. | - | - |
28[112] | Central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 6.3 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
Strongest magnitude | 6.7 Mw Japan |
---|---|
Deadliest | 0 |
Total fatalities | 0 |
Number by magnitude | |
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
6.0–6.9 | 10 |
Date | Country and location | Mw | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dead | Injured | ||||||
1[113] | New Zealand, Kermadec Island Region | 6.2 | 355.8 | I | - | - | - |
2[114] | Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture | 6.7 | 49.2 | VI | Local tsunami observed with maximum recorded wave heights (peak-to-trough) of 21 cm in the Nichinan-Aburatsu area and 4 cm in the Hyuga-Hososhima area. | - | - |
3[115] | Tonga region | 6.2 | 32.7 | I | - | - | - |
9[116] | Indonesia, West Java | 6.1 | 50.9 | V | - | - | - |
9[117] | Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 6.0 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
10[118] | Central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 6.7 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
22[119] | Japan, Hokkaido | 6.5 | 226.5 | IV | - | - | - |
26[120] | Indonesia, Papua | 6.3 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
30[121] | Indonesia, Maluku | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
31[122] | Mexico, Chiapas | 6.4 | 99.5 | VI | Felt as far as Mexico City. | - | - |
Date | Time | Place | Lat. | Long. | Deaths | Magnitude | Comments | Sources | Main article |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
February 3, 1996 | 19:14 local time | Lijiang, Yunnan, China | 27.30 | 100.29 | 322 | 6.6 | Mw | USGS | 1996 Lijiang earthquake |
February 17, 1996 | 05:59 | Near Biak Island, Indonesia | −0.891 | 136.952 | 108 | 8.1 | Mw | [123] | 1996 Biak earthquake |
May 3, 1996 | 03:32 UTC | Near Baotou, China | 40.774 | 109.661 | 26 | 6.4 | Ms | [123][124] | 1996 Baotou earthquake |
November 12, 1996 | 16:59 UTC | Near Nazca, Peru | −14.993 | 75.675 | 14 | 7.5 | Mw | USGS | 1996 Nazca earthquake |