List of earthquakes in 1991 explained

Year:1991
Location Map:Earth
Largest:7.6 Costa Rica
7.6
Deadliest:6.8 India
2,000 deaths
Fatalities:3,498
9.0+:0
8.0−8.9:0
7.0−7.9:20
6.0−6.9:120
5.0−5.9:1,449
4.0-4.9:4,304

This is a list of earthquakes in 1991. 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.

By death toll

RankDeath tollMagnitudeLocationMMIDepth (km)Date
12,0006.8 India, UttarakhandIX (Violent)10.3October 19
28486.9 Afghanistan, BadakshanVII (Very Strong)142.4January 31
32707.0 Georgia, RachaIX (Violent)17.2April 29
41277.6 Costa Rica, LimonX (Extreme)10.0April 22
5925.3, Department of ArequipaVI (Strong)5.0July 23
6537.1 Peru, Department of San MartínVIII (Severe)19.8April 5
7256.2, Chimaltenango DepartmentVII (Very Strong)5.0September 18
8236.9East Timor offshore VII (Very Strong)28.8July 4
9205.5, Kurdistan RegionVI (Strong)25.5July 24
10104.7, IbbV (Moderate)10.0November 22
Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.

By magnitude

RankMagnitudeDeath tollLocationMMIDepth (km)Date
17.6127 Costa Rica, Limon ProvinceX (Extreme)10.0April 22
17.60, Kuril Islands offshoreVI (Strong)24.7December 22
37.50, Gorontalo offshore VII (Very Strong)31.4June 20
47.30, Santiago del EsteroI (Not Felt)558.0June 23
57.20, Malango offshore VII (Very Strong)23.4October 14
57.22, Chocó offshore IX (Violent)21.3November 19
57.20 offshore I (Not Felt)10.0December 27
87.153 Peru, San MartínVIII (Severe)19.8April 5
97.00 Myanmar, SagaingVIII (Severe)19.7January 5
97.00 Philippines, Mindanao offshoreVII (Very Strong)23.9February 18
97.0270 Georgia, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo SvanetiIX (Violent)17.2April 29
97.00 Indonesia, Gorontalo offshore VI (Strong)33.0May 19
97.00 Peru, CuscoVII (Very Strong)104.5July 6
97.00V (Moderate)28.4May 30
97.00 Tonga offshoreI (Not Felt)265.5June 9
97.00 United States, Oregon offshoreV (Moderate)1.3August 17
97.00 Fiji region offshoreI (Not Felt)566.4September 30
Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.

By month

January

Month:January
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:12
Fatalities:848
Largest:7.0 Myanmar
Deadliest:6.9
848 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
1[1] , Colima offshore, 172 km southwest of Emiliano Zapata6.335.0I---
2[2] , Nevada, 6 km southwest of Carson City4.45.8VMinor damage was caused in Carson City.--
5[3] , Mandalay, 99 km northwest of Mogok7.019.7VIIIAt least 32 buildings and 380 hectares of farmland were damaged in Thabeikkyin. Some landslides were also reported. --
23[4] , Alaska, Rat Islands offshore6.4108.4V---
25[5] , Papua offshore, 162 km northwest of Abepura6.433.0VI---
31[6] , Badakshan, 77 km northwest Parun6.9142.4VIIThe 1991 Hindu Kush earthquake killed 848 people (545 in Afghanistan, 300 in Pakistan and 3 in Tajikistan), injured 200 and destroyed thousands of homes. Landslides also occurred. 848200

February

Month:February
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:11
Fatalities:9
Largest:7.0 Philippines
Deadliest:3.8
9 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
9[7] , Guadalcanal offshore, 68 km southwest of Malango6.910.0VISome damage occurred in Honiara, where a tsunami of 4 cm was observed.--
12[8] , Istanbul offshore, 18 km southwest of Kinali4.810.0IVA few people were slightly injured and minor damage occurred in the Istanbul area.-3+
13[9] , Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, 6 km south of Claviere, Italy3.85.0IVNine people were killed by an avalanche which was triggered by the quake.9-
18[10] , Caraga offshore, 18 km east of Aras-asan7.023.9VII---
21[11] , offshore Bering Sea6.720.2IVA tsunami was observed with heights of 30 cm (1 ft) in Dutch Harbor, Alaska.--
25[12] , Xinjiang, 118 km southwest of Aykol6.020.6VIIThree people were injured and at least 120 houses collapsed and 8,441 houses damaged in the Kalpin area. Ground cracks were also reported there. -3

March

Month:March
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:0
6.0–6.9:9
Fatalities:0
Largest:6.6
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
8[13] , Kamchatka, 74 km northeast of Tilichiki6.613.0VIII---
16[14] , Guanacaste, 15 km north of Nandayure6.333.0VI---
25[15] , Shanxi, 58 km southeast of Datong5.410.0VI131 people were injured and 1,328 houses were damaged in Datong.-131

April

Month:April
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:3
6.0–6.9:13
Fatalities:452
Largest:7.6 Costa Rica
Deadliest:7.0 Georgia
270 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
4[16] , San Martín, 4 km northeast of Rioja6.520.7VIIThis was a foreshock of the 7.1 earthquake which occurred a day later. Ten people were injured and fifteen houses were damaged.-10
5[17] , San Martín, 11 km northeast of Rioja7.119.8VIIIThe 1991 Alto Mayo earthquake killed at least 53 people, injured 252 and destroyed 8,063 homes in the Rioja-Moyobamba area.53252
5[18] , Ica, 21 km southeast of Pampa de Tate6.350.0VISome damage was caused in Nazca.--
6[19] Wallis and Futuna offshore, 203 km southeast of Mata-Utu6.716.0I---
18[20] , Khatlon, 14 km southeast of Boshchorbogh5.533.0VOne person died and six were injured in the Kabodiyen District, where landslides occurred.16
20[21] , Badakshan, 50 km south of Jurm4.133.0III100 homes were damaged in Badakshan.--
22[22] , Limón, 34 km south of Limón7.610.0XThe 1991 Limon earthquake claimed 48 lives in Costa Rica and 79 in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Roads and bridges between Limón and Sixaola were all destroyed. 759 people were also injured.127 759
24[23] , Erzurum, 33 km west of Tekman4.533.0IVOne person was killed, three were injured and some houses were damaged in Erzurum Province.13
29[24] , Racha, 22 km northwest of Java7.017.2IXThe 1991 Racha earthquake was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in the Caucasus region. 270 people were killed and 1,000 were injured.2701,000

May

Month:May
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:2
6.0–6.9:10
Fatalities:4
Largest:7.0 Indonesia
7.0 United States
Deadliest:5.6 Georgia
3 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
1[25] , Alaska, 33 km west of Petersville6.3115.1VMinor damage occurred in Anchorage.--
3[26] , Bonin Islands offshore6.7433.1I---
3[27] , Racha, 19 km northeast of Ambrolauri5.610.0VIIIt was an aftershock of the 1991 Racha earthquake. Three people were killed by landslides.3-
4[28] , Bocas del Toro offshore, 16 km northeast of Changuinola6.210.0VIII36 people were injured and 900 people were left homeless in Changuinola.-36
15[29] , Racha, 7 km southwest of Oni4.914.0VIA mudslide destroyed all 45 houses in the Khekheti area. It was an aftershock of the 1991 Racha earthquake.--
17[30] , East Sepik, 22 km southwest of Ambunti6.459.0VI---
19[31] , Gorontalo offshore, 69 km north of Gorontalo7.033.0VI---
21[32] , Maluku offshore, 106 km north of Baukau, Timor Leste6.618.4VI---
26[33] , Sabah, 13 km southeast of Ranau5.133.0VOne person died of a heart attack and light damage occurred in Ranau.1-
30[34] , Alaska offshore, 71 km southeast of King Cove7.028.4V---

June

Month:June
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:3
6.0–6.9:6
Fatalities:10
Largest:7.5 Indonesia
Deadliest:6.3
8 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
7[35] , offshore Flores Sea, 160 km northeast of Maumere6.9536.4I---
9[36] , Tongatapu offshore, 144 km northwest of Nuku‘alofa7.0265.5I---
10[37] Northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge6.49.7I---
15[38] , Racha, 9 km northeast of Java6.39.4VIIIIt was an aftershock of the 1991 Racha earthquake. Eight people were killed, 200 were injured and further damage was caused.8200
15[39] offshore6.651.7I---
20[40] , Gorontalo offshore, 79 km northwest of Gorontalo7.531.4VIIOver 1,500 houses were damaged in Gorontalo.--
23[41] , Santiago del Estero, 27 km northwest of El Hoyo7.3558.0I---
28[42] , California, 13 km northeast of Sierra Madre5.88.0VIIAfter the 1991 Sierra Madre earthquake, one person was killed and another died due to a heart attack. 100 people were injured and many buildings were damaged.2100

July

Month:July
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:6
Fatalities:137
Largest:7.0 Peru
Deadliest:5.3
92 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
2[43] , Sumatra offshore, 58 km southwest of Padang6.453.8VMinor damage was caused in Padang.--
4[44] East Timor offshore, 81 km northwest Maubara6.928.8VIIThe 1991 Kalabahi earthquakes destroyed over 1,100 homes, killing 23 and injuring 181.23181
6[45] , Cusco, 15 km west of Lares7.0104.5VIISome damage occurred in Cusco.--
12[46] , Timis, 2 km south of Livezile5.610.7VIIITwo people died and thirty were injured after several houses collapsed. Some damage was also caused in Serbia (formerly part of Yugoslavia).230
13[47] , Oregon offshore, 103 km west of Pistol River6.911.0VI---
14[48] , Badakshan, 53 km southwest of Ashkasham6.7212.9V---
23[49] , Arequipa, 5 km southeast of Chivay5.35.0VIAt least 92 people were killed and thirty were injured in the earthquake despite its moderate magnitude, including eighty who were missing and presumed dead.9230
24[50] , Kurdistan, 30 km southeast of Aqrah5.525.5VIAt least twenty people killed and many were injured. 100 homes were destroyed.20Many

August

Month:August
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:8
Fatalities:0
Largest:7.0 United States
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
6[51] , Chiba offshore, 19 km east of Hasaki6.028.5V---
8[52] , Gorontalo offshore, 67 km northwest of Gorontalo6.712.4VIIIt was an aftershock of the 7.5 earthquake that occurred in June.--
14[53] , Torba offshore, 31 km north of Sola6.513.8VII---
17[54] , California, 30 km southwest of Scotia6.08.3VIIIDamage and landslides occurred in Petrolia.--
17[55] , Oregon offshore, 136 km southwest of Brookings7.01.3V---

September

Month:September
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:6
Fatalities:25
Largest:7.0 Fiji
Deadliest:6.2
25 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
18[56] , Chimaltenago, 4 km southeast of Patzún6.25.0VIIDuring the 1991 Guatemala earthquake, 25 people died and 200 were injured. Landslides and extensive damage occurred.25200
28[57] , East New Britain, 95 km southeast of Kimbe6.628.0VI---
30[58] region offshore 7.0566.4I---

October

Month:October
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:11
Fatalities:2,000
Largest:7.2 Solomon Islands
Deadliest:6.8
2,000 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
12[59] Vanuatu offshore, 96 km west of Sola6.343.8V---
14[60] Solomon Islands offshore, 155 km west northwest of Malango7.223.4VII---
18[61] offshore, south of the Fiji Islands6.5197.5I---
19[62] , Uttarakhand, 32 km east of Uttarkashi6.810.3IXThe 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake damaged or destroyed 18,000 buildings throughout Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and New Delhi. Landslides and a 30-meter deep crack were formed in Uttarkashi. 2,000 people were killed and 1,800 were injured. 2,0001,800

November

Month:November
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:1
6.0–6.9:13
Fatalities:13
Largest:7.2 Colombia
Deadliest:4.7
10 deaths
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
1[63] , Kermadec Islands offshore 6.621.4I---
4[64] , Khuzestan, 8 km northwest of Behbahan5.638.5V51 people were injured and 290 houses were damaged or destroyed in Behbahan.-51
10[65] , Khuzestan, 2 km southeast of Behbahan5.043.6IVFifteen people were injured and further damage was caused in Behbahan.-15
13[66] , Caraga offshore, 4 km southeast of Hinatuan6.835.9VIIMinor damage was caused.--
19[67] , Chocó offshore, 33 km northwest of Santa Genoveva de Docordó7.221.3IXTwo people were killed and 28 homes were damaged in Chocó. Minor damage was also caused in Cali.2-
24[68] , Ibb, 7 km northwest of Dhi as Sufal4.710.0VTen people were killed and 39 were injured. 17 houses were destroyed and 87 damaged.1039
26[69] , Hokkaido offshore, 33 km southeast of Shizunai-furukawachō6.456.3VI---
28[70] , Gilan, 26 km northeast of Manjil5.615.7VIDamage occurred in the epicentral area. One person died and seventy were injured. 170

December

Month:December
8.0-8.9:0
7.0–7.9:2
6.0–6.9:15
Fatalities:0
Largest:7.6
Date! rowspan="2" style="width: 310px"
Country and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualties
DeadInjured
11[71] offshore, southeast of the Loyalty Islands6.536.6I---
13[72] , Kuril Islands offshore, 290 km east of Kuril'sk6.630.0IThese were foreshocks of the 7.6 earthquake on December 22.--
13[73] , Kuril Islands offshore, 258 km east of Kuril'sk6.827.2III--
22[74] , Kuril Islands offshore, 247 km east of Kuril'sk7.624.7VI---
27[75] offshore 7.210.0I---
27[76] , Khövsgöl, 64 km northeast of Kungurtug, Russia6.413.5VII---

Notes and References

  1. Web site: M 6.3 - 172 km SSW of Emiliano Zapata, Mexico.
  2. Web site: M 4.4 - 6 km NNE of Carson City, Nevada.
  3. Web site: M 7.0 - 99 km NW of Mogok, Myanmar.
  4. Web site: M 6.4 - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska.
  5. Web site: M 6.4 - 162 km WNW of Abepura, Indonesia.
  6. Web site: M 6.9 - 77 km NW of Parun, Afghanistan.
  7. Web site: M 6.9 - 68 km WSW of Malango, Solomon Islands.
  8. Web site: M 4.8 - 18 km SW of Kinali, Turkey.
  9. Web site: M 3.8 - 6 km S of Claviere, Italy.
  10. Web site: M 7.0 - 18 km E of Aras-asan, Philippines.
  11. Web site: M 6.7 - Bering Sea.
  12. Web site: M 6.0 - 118 km WSW of Aykol, China.
  13. Web site: M 6.6 - 74 km NE of Tilichiki, Russia.
  14. Web site: M 6.3 - 15 km N of Nandayure, Costa Rica.
  15. Web site: M 5.4 - 58 km ESE of Datong, China.
  16. Web site: M 6.5 - 4 km ENE of Rioja, Peru.
  17. Web site: M 7.1 - 11 km NE of Rioja, Peru.
  18. Web site: M 6.3 - 21 km ESE of Pampa de Tate, Peru.
  19. Web site: M 6.7 - 203 km SSE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.
  20. Web site: M 5.5 - 14 km ESE of Boshchorbogh, Tajikistan.
  21. Web site: M 4.1 - 50 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan.
  22. Web site: M 7.6 - Costa Rica. USGS. United States Geological Survey. June 22, 2017.
  23. Web site: M 4.5 - 33 km W of Tekman, Turkey.
  24. Web site: M 7.0 - 22 km WNW of Java, Georgia.
  25. Web site: M 6.3 - Central Alaska.
  26. Web site: M 6.7 - Bonin Islands, Japan region.
  27. Web site: M 5.6 - 19 km NNE of Ambrolauri, Georgia.
  28. Web site: M 6.2 - 16 km NE of Changuinola, Panama.
  29. Web site: M 4.9 - 7 km WSW of Oni, Georgia.
  30. Web site: M 6.4 - 22 km SSW of Ambunti, Papua New Guinea.
  31. Web site: M 7.0 - 69 km N of Gorontalo, Indonesia.
  32. Web site: M 6.6 - 106 km N of Baukau, Timor Leste.
  33. Web site: M 5.1 - 13 km SE of Ranau, Malaysia.
  34. Web site: M 7.0 - 71 km SE of King Cove, Alaska.
  35. Web site: M 6.9 - 160 km NNE of Maumere, Indonesia.
  36. Web site: M 7.0 - 144 km NW of Nuku'alofa, Tonga.
  37. Web site: M 6.4 - northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
  38. Web site: M 6.3 - 9 km NE of Java, Georgia.
  39. Web site: M 6.6 - South Sandwich Islands region.
  40. Web site: M 7.5 - 79 km NNW of Gorontalo, Indonesia.
  41. Web site: M 7.3 - 27 km NNW of El Hoyo, Argentina.
  42. Web site: M 5.8 - 13km NNE of Sierra Madre, CA.
  43. Web site: M 6.4 - 58 km WSW of Padang, Indonesia.
  44. Web site: M 6.9 - 81 km NW of Maubara, Timor Leste.
  45. Web site: M 7.0 - 15 km W of Lares, Peru.
  46. Web site: M 5.6 - 2 km S of Livezile, Romania.
  47. Web site: M 6.9 - 103 km W of Pistol River, Oregon.
  48. Web site: M 6.7 - 53 km SW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan.
  49. Web site: M 5.3 - 5 km SSE of Chivay, Peru.
  50. Web site: M 5.5 - 30 km SSE of 'Aqrah, Iraq.
  51. Web site: M 6.0 - 19 km E of Hasaki, Japan.
  52. Web site: M 6.7 - 67 km NW of Gorontalo, Indonesia.
  53. Web site: M 6.5 - 31 km N of Sola, Vanuatu.
  54. Web site: M 6.0 - 30 km SSW of Scotia, California.
  55. Web site: M 7.0 - 136 km WSW of Brookings, Oregon.
  56. Web site: M 6.2 - 4 km SE of Patzún, Guatemala.
  57. Web site: M 6.6 - 95 km ESE of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea.
  58. Web site: M 7.0 - Fiji region.
  59. Web site: M 6.3 - 96 km W of Sola, Vanuatu.
  60. Web site: M 7.2 - 155 km WNW of Malango, Solomon Islands.
  61. Web site: M 6.5 - south of the Fiji Islands.
  62. Web site: M 6.8 - 32 km E of Uttarkashi, India.
  63. Web site: M 6.6 - Kermadec Islands, New Zealand.
  64. Web site: M 5.6 - 8 km NNW of Behbahan, Iran.
  65. Web site: M 5.0 - 2 km SSE of Behbahan, Iran.
  66. Web site: M 6.8 - 4 km ESE of Hinatuan, Philippines.
  67. Web site: M 7.2 - 33 km NNW of Santa Genoveva de Docordó, Colombia.
  68. Web site: M 4.7 - 7 km NW of Dh? as Suf?l, Yemen.
  69. Web site: M 6.4 - 33 km SSE of Shizunai-furukawachi, Japan.
  70. Web site: M 5.6 - 26 km NE of Manjil, Iran.
  71. Web site: M 6.5 - southeast of the Loyalty Islands.
  72. Web site: M 6.6 - 290 km E of Kuril'sk, Russia.
  73. Web site: M 6.8 - 258 km E of Kuril'sk, Russia.
  74. Web site: M 7.6 - 247 km E of Kuril'sk, Russia.
  75. Web site: M 7.2 - South Sandwich Islands region.
  76. Web site: M 6.4 - 64 km NE of Kungurtug, Russia.

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