List of earthquakes in 1917

Earthquakes in 1917

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1917 4.0−5.9 magnitude 6.0−6.9 magnitude 7.0−7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand May 1 (Magnitude 8.2)
Deadliest	Guatemala Department, Guatemala December 26 (Magnitude 6.0) 2,650 deaths
Total fatalities	6,219
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
8.0−8.9	2
7.0−7.9	14
6.0−6.9	17
5.0−5.9	0
← 1916 1918 →

This is a list of earthquakes in 1917. 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. This year was marked by many earthquakes which caused deaths or damage across a number of countries.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	2,650	6.0	Guatemala Department, Guatemala	0.0	December 26
2	1,800	6.9	Sichuan Province, China	15.0	July 30
3	1,500	6.6	Kangean Islands, Indonesia	0.0	January 20
4	101	6.3	Anhui Province, China	20.0	January 24
4	101	6.7	La Libertad Department, El Salvador	0.0	June 8
5	54	6.5	off south coast of Pingtung County, Taiwan	0.0	January 4

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	8.2	0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	15.0	May 1
2	8.0	0	southwest of Samoa	15.0	June 26
3	7.9	0	off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia	20.0	January 30
4	7.4	0	south of Alaska Peninsula	35.0	May 31
4	7.4	0	Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea	35.0	July 29
4	7.4	0	Sea of Japan	500.0	July 31
5	7.3	0	Barat Daya Islands, Indonesia	100.0	August 30
5	7.3	0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	0.0	November 16
6	7.2	0	south of Cuba	0.0	February 20
6	7.2	0	northeast of Taiwan	0.0	July 4
7	7.1	0	Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan	220.0	April 21
7	7.1	6	Meta Department, Colombia	0.0	August 31
7	7.1	0	northern Sumatra, Indonesia	0.0	November 4
8	7.0	0	northeast of Taiwan	0.0	July 4
8	7.0	0	northwest of Puerto Rico	50.0	July 27
8	7.0	0	off east coast of Honshu, Japan	0.0	July 29

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January–March

• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the south coast of Pingtung County, Taiwan on January 4 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[1] Fifty-four people were killed and 85 more injured. One-hundred and thirty homes were destroyed.^[2] The exact location of the event is in doubt as other sources put this event further to the north as the felt reports on that suggest that the south end of the island was less affected. A series of earthquakes struck central Taiwan from August 1916–January 1917 and this event was possibly part of that series.
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Pingtung County, Taiwan on January 6 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[3]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Kangean Islands, Indonesia on January 20 at an unknown depth. Like the Taiwan earthquake on January 4 the exact location of the event is debated. Some sources put the epicenter to the north of Bali whereas others put it to the southeast. One-thousand five-hundred lives were lost and many homes were destroyed mainly owing to landslides.^[4]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Anhui Province, China on January 24 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[5] At least 101 deaths were reported. Many homes were destroyed.^[6]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Fujian Province, China on January 25 at an unknown depth. A tsunami was generated which caused some damage to fishing boats in the area.^[7]
• A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia on January 30 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[8]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the southern end of Mindanao, Philippines on January 31 at an unknown depth. Seven deaths were attributed to a landslide. Two people were injured and some homes were destroyed. A tsunami was generated.^[9]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Coquimbo Region, Chile on February 15 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[10]
• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck south of Cuba on February 20 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[11]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on March 15 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[12]

April–June

• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on April 21 at a depth of 220.0 km.^[13]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Buryatia, Russia on April 29 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[14]
• A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on May 1 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[15]
• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck south of the Alaska Peninsula on May 31 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[16]
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck La Libertad Department, El Salvador on June 8 at an unknown depth. At least 101 people were killed and major destruction was caused in San Salvador and surrounding areas. A volcano was also erupting around the time of the quake.^[17]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Tonga on June 24 at a depth of 60.0 km.^[18]
• A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck southwest of Samoa on June 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[19] A large tsunami was generated with wave heights reported as high as 40 feet. Some damage was caused on Samoa. Changes in land elevation were reported with some parts rising or subsiding.^[20]

July–September

• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck northeast of Taiwan on July 4 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[21]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck northeast of Taiwan on July 4 at a depth of 0.0 km. This event came five hours after the previous one and can be considered an example of a doublet earthquake.^[22]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck northwest of Puerto Rico on July 27 at a depth of 50.0 km.^[23]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck San Juan Province, Argentina on July 27 at a depth of 60.0 km.^[24]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on July 29 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[25]
• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea on July 29 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[26]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China on July 30 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[27] Eighteen-hundred people were killed and heavy damage was caused in the area.^[28]
• A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Sea of Japan on July 31 at a depth of 500.0 km. It was closer to the Russian and North Korean shore.^[29]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of North Island, New Zealand on August 5 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[30]
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the Barat Daya Islands, Indonesia on August 30 at a depth of 100.0 km.^[31]
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Meta Department, Colombia on August 31 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[32] Six people were killed and at least 51 more injured. A few homes were destroyed.^[33]

September–December

• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck northern Sumatra, Indonesia on November 4 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[34]
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on November 16 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[35]
• A series of devastating earthquakes struck Guatemala Department, Guatemala in December 1917 and January 1918. The first event was a magnitude 6.0 earthquake striking on December 26 at an unknown depth. In all the series would lead to approximately 2,650 deaths and major damage in the area.^[36]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico on December 29 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[37]

References

1. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
2. "Significant Earthquake TAIWAN: PULI". National Geophysical Data Center. January 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
3. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 6, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
4. "Significant Earthquake INDONESIA: BALI". National Geophysical Data Center. January 20, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
5. "M6.3 - Anhui, China". United States Geological Survey. January 24, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
6. "Significant Earthquake CHINA: ANHUI PROVINCE:". National Geophysical Data Center. January 24, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
7. "Tsunami Event SOUTH CHINA SEA". National Geophysical Data Center. January 25, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
8. "M7.9 - near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia". United States Geological Survey. January 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
9. "Significant Earthquake PHILIPPINES: S MINDANAO: GLAN,GLAN PADIDU,TUYAN". National Geophysical Data Center. January 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
10. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. February 15, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
11. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. February 20, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
12. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 15, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
13. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 21, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
14. "M6.5 - Buryatiya, Russia". United States Geological Survey. April 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
15. "M8.2 - Kermadec Islands region". United States Geological Survey. May 1, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
16. "M7.4 - south of Alaska". United States Geological Survey. May 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
17. "Significant Earthquake EL SALVADOR: SAN SALVADOR". National Geophysical Data Center. June 8, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
18. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 24, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
19. "M8.0 - Samoa Islands region". United States Geological Survey. June 26, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
20. "Significant Earthquake SAMOA ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. June 26, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
21. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. July 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
22. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. July 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
23. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. July 27, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
24. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. July 27, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
25. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. July 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
26. "M7.4 - New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. July 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
27. "M6.9 - eastern Sichuan, China". United States Geological Survey. July 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
28. "Significant Earthquake CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE". National Geophysical Data Center. July 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
29. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. July 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
30. "M6.6 - off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand". United States Geological Survey. August 5, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
31. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
32. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
33. "Significant Earthquake COLOMBIA: BOGOTA, UBAQUE, SOACHA, CAQUEZA". National Geophysical Data Center. August 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
34. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
35. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 16, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
36. "Significant Earthquake GUATEMALA: GUATEMALA CITY". National Geophysical Data Center. December 26, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
37. "M6.9 - offshore Oaxaca, Mexico". United States Geological Survey. December 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015.