List of earthquakes in 1920 explained

Year:1920
Location Map:Earth
Largest:China Ningxia Province 16 December (Magnitude 8.3)
Deadliest:China Ningxia Province 16 December (Magnitude 8.3) 242,029 deaths
Fatalities:244,887
9.0+:0
8.0–8.9:3
7.0–7.9:7
6.0–6.9:29
5.0–5.9:2

This is a list of earthquakes in 1920. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury or damage. Events which occurred in remote areas will be excluded from the list as they wouldn't have generated significant media interest. All dates are listed according to UTC time. With over 200,000 deaths being recorded in China, and substantial fatalities elsewhere, 1920 was one of the deadliest years of the 20th century for earthquakes.

Overall

By death toll

RankDeath tollMagnitudeLocationMMIDepth (km)Date
1China, Ningxia Province
2Italy, Emilia-Romagna
3Mexico, Veracruz
4Argentina, Mendoza Province
5Albania, Gjirokaster County
= 6Georgia, Shida Kartli
= 6Albania, Vlore County

By magnitude

RankMagnitudeDeath tollLocationMMIDepth (km)Date
1China, Ningxia Province
2Taiwan, east of
3France, Loyalty Islands
= 4New Guinea, East New Britain Province
5Argentina, Neuquen Province
= 6Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk
= 6Russian SFSR, southern end of Urup, Kuril Islands
= 7southern East Pacific Rise
= 7New Guinea, off the north coast of

Notable events

January

Month:January
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:1
Deadliest:7.8 Mw
648 deaths
Fatalities:648
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[1] 6.3 15.0 The 1920 Xalapa earthquake left 648 people were killed and another 167 were injured. Damage was caused. 648 167
[2] 6.0 35.0

February

Month:February
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:2
6.0–6.9:3
Largest:7.8 Mw New Guinea
Deadliest:6.2 Mw Georgia
101+ deaths
Fatalities:101+
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[3] [4] New Guinea, East New Britain Province 7.8 35.0 A few homes were destroyed.
[5] 6.7 35.0
[6] 6.4 15.0
[7] 6.2 11.0 At least 101 people were killed and many homes were damaged due to the 1920 Gori earthquake. 101+
[8] 7.1 355.1

March

Month:March
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:2
Largest:7.0 Mw southern East Pacific Rise
Fatalities:0
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[9] 6.3 15.0
[10] 7.0 10.0
[11] 6.4 15.0

April

Month:April
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:0
6.0–6.9:3
Largest:6.6 Mw Mexico
Fatalities:0
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[12] New Guinea, Oro Province 6.3 15.0
[13] 6.3 15.0
[14] 6.6 35.0

May

Month:May
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:7
Largest:7.0 Mw New Guinea
Fatalities:0
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[15] 6.5 500.0
[16] 6.8 35.0
[17] British Solomon Islands, south of 6.8 15.0
[18] 6.5 370.0
[19] 6.6 150.0
[20] New Guinea, off the north coast of 7.0 25.0
[21] 6.8 80.0
[22] 6.5 600.0

June

Month:June
8.0–8.9:1
7.0–7.9:0
6.0–6.9:1
Largest:8.2 Mw Taiwan
Deadliest:8.2 Mw Taiwan
8 deaths
Fatalities:8
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[23] [24] Taiwan, east of 8.2 20.0 8 people were killed and 24 were injured. 273 homes were destroyed in the 1920 Hualien earthquake. 5 24
[25] 6.8 15.0

July

Month:July
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:0
6.0–6.9:1
Largest:6.0 Mw Canada
Fatalities:0
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[26] 6.0 35.0

August

Month:August
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:0
6.0–6.9:4
Largest:6.9 Mw 2 events
Fatalities:0
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[27] 6.9 15.0
[28] 6.5 150.0
[29] 6.7 35.0
[30] [31] 6.9 15.0 Some homes were damaged or destroyed.

September

Month:September
8.0–8.9:1
7.0–7.9:0
6.0–6.9:1
5.0–5.9:1
Largest:8.1 Mw France
Deadliest:5.8 Mw Italy
1,400 deaths
Fatalities:1,400
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[32] 5.8 10.0 There was conflicting information about the 1920 Garfagnana earthquake. Some sources put the death toll as high as 1,400 whereas others report 171 deaths. 1,400
[33] 6.5 35.0
[34] [35] 8.1 25.0 A tsunami caused some minor damage.

October

Month:October
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:2
Largest:7.1 Mw Russia
Fatalities:0
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[36] 6.7 20.0
[37] 7.1 35.0
[38] Taiwan, east of 6.4 15.0

November

Month:November
8.0–8.9:0
7.0–7.9:0
6.0–6.9:1
Largest:6.2 Mw Albanian Kingdom
Deadliest:6.2 Mw Albanian Kingdom
200 deaths
Fatalities:200
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[39] 6.2 25.0 200 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed. 200

December

Month:December
8.0–8.9:1
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:3
5.0–5.9:1
Largest:8.3 Mw China
Deadliest:8.3 Mw China
242,029 deaths
Fatalities:242,530
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
[40] 7.3 15.0
[41] [42] 8.3 15.0 The 1920 Haiyuan earthquake was one of the deadliest events of the 20th century. Over 200,000 deaths were caused in the region. Based on a list of cities affected there was at least 242,029 people killed. Property damage was around $25 million (1920 rate). Parts of the regional terrain were affected with uplift or slumping. 242,029
[43] 6.0 10.0 400 people were killed and many homes were destroyed in the 1920 Mendoza earthquake. 400
[44] 5.6 0.0 At least 101 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed. 101+
[45] 6.8 35.0
[46] 6.8 15.0 Aftershock.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Significant Earthquake: MEXICO: VERACRUZ: COZAUTLAN, PUEBLA: PATLANALA. National Geophysical Data Center. 17 December 2015 . 3 January 1920.
  2. Web site: On-Line Bulletin. International Seismological Centre. 19 December 2015 . 30 January 1920.
  3. Web site: M 7.8 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 2 February 1920.
  4. Web site: Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: NEW BRITAIN. National Geophysical Data Center. 17 December 2015 . 2 February 1920.
  5. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 7 February 1920.
  6. Web site: M 6.4 – Puerto Rico region. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 10 February 1920.
  7. Web site: Significant Earthquake: GEORGIA: CAUCASUS: GORI, TIFLIS. National Geophysical Data Center. 17 December 2015 . 20 February 1920.
  8. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 22 February 1920.
  9. Web site: M 6.3 – off the west coast of northern Sumatra. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 17 March 1920.
  10. Web site: M 7.0 – southern East Pacific Rise. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 20 March 1920.
  11. Web site: M 6.4 – Vancouver Island, Canada region. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 29 March 1920.
  12. Web site: M 6.3 – eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 2 April 1920.
  13. Web site: M 6.3 – Kuril Islands. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 11 April 1920.
  14. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 19 April 1920.
  15. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 6 May 1920.
  16. Web site: M 6.8 – Mindanao, Philippines. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 7 May 1920.
  17. Web site: M 6.8 – Solomon Islands. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 7 May 1920.
  18. Web site: On-Line Bulletin. International Seismological Centre. 19 December 2015 . 10 May 1920.
  19. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 12 May 1920.
  20. Web site: M 7.0 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 13 May 1920.
  21. Web site: M 6.8 – Santa Cruz Islands. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 20 May 1920.
  22. Web site: On-Line Bulletin. International Seismological Centre. 19 December 2015 . 27 May 1920.
  23. Web site: M 8.2 – Taiwan. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 5 June 1920.
  24. Web site: Significant Earthquake: TAIWAN. National Geophysical Data Center. 18 December 2015 . 5 June 1920.
  25. Web site: M 6.8 – Banda Sea. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 9 June 1920.
  26. Web site: On-Line Bulletin. International Seismological Centre. 19 December 2015 . 7 July 1920.
  27. Web site: M 6.9 – Catamarca, Argentina. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 3 August 1920.
  28. Web site: On-Line Bulletin. International Seismological Centre. 19 December 2015 . 13 August 1920.
  29. Web site: M 6.7 – Santa Cruz Islands. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 15 August 1920.
  30. Web site: M 6.9 – Araucania, Chile. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 20 August 1920.
  31. Web site: Significant Earthquake: CHILE: OFF COAST CENTRAL. National Geophysical Data Center. 18 December 2015 . 20 August 1920.
  32. Web site: Significant Earthquake: ITALY: CARRARA,GARFAGNANA. National Geophysical Data Center. 18 December 2015 . 7 September 1920.
  33. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 16 September 1920.
  34. Web site: M 8.1 – Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. United States Geological Survey. 18 December 2015 . 20 September 1920.
  35. Web site: Tsunami Event: VANUATU ISLANDS. National Geophysical Data Center. 18 December 2015 . 20 September 1920.
  36. Web site: M 6.7 – Xinjiang-Xizang border region. United States Geological Survey. 19 December 2015 . 12 October 1920.
  37. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 19 December 2015 . 18 October 1920.
  38. Web site: M 6.4 – Taiwan region. United States Geological Survey. 19 December 2015 . 20 October 1920.
  39. Web site: Significant Earthquake: ALBANIA: TEPELENE, DRAGOTI, PESHTANI, MARICAJ . United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 26 November 1920.
  40. Web site: M 7.3 – Neuquen, Argentina. United States Geological Survey. 19 December 2015 . 10 December 1920.
  41. Web site: M 8.3 – Gansu-Ningxia border region, China. United States Geological Survey. 19 December 2015 . 16 December 1920.
  42. Web site: Significant Earthquake: CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE, SHANXI PROVINCE. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 16 December 1920.
  43. Web site: Significant Earthquake: ARGENTINA: MENDOZA. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 17 December 1920.
  44. Web site: Significant Earthquake: ALBANIA: ELBASAN, PEQIN. United States Geological Survey. 17 December 2015 . 18 December 1920.
  45. Web site: Centennial Earthquake Catalog. United States Geological Survey. 19 December 2015 . 19 December 1920.
  46. Web site: M 6.8 – Nei Mongol-Ningxia border region, China. United States Geological Survey. 19 December 2015 . 25 December 1920.

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