List of earthquakes in 1919

This is a list of earthquakes in 1919. 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. The death toll for the year over 3,000. These were from the two earthquakes in Turkey and El Salvador. The southwest Pacific Ocean area saw some very large magnitude events. Clusters of activity were also found in Taiwan, the Philippines and Central America.

Earthquakes in 1919

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1919 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Tonga, April 30 (Magnitude 8.1)
Deadliest	Turkey, Balıkesir Province November 19 (Magnitude 7.0) 3,000 deaths
Total fatalities	100+
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
← 1918 1920 →

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	3,000	7.0	Turkey, Balıkesir Province	IX (Violent)	10.0	November 19
2	100	5.9	El Salvador, San Salvador	( )	0.0	April 28

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	8.1	0	Tonga	( )	25.0	April 30
= 2	7.8	0	Fiji	( )	485.0	January 1
= 2	7.8	0	New Guinea, southeast of New Ireland (island)	( )	35.0	May 6
= 3	7.2	0	Chile, off the coast of Los Lagos Region	( )	15.0	March 2
= 3	7.2	0	Argentina, Chubut Province	( )	15.0	March 2
= 3	7.2	0	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	( )	35.0	April 17
= 3	7.2	0	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	( )	15.0	May 3
= 3	7.2	0	Tanganyika, Rukwa Region	( )	15.0	July 8
= 4	7.1	0	Taiwan, north of	( )	35.0	June 1
= 4	7.1	0	Taiwan, east of	( )	35.0	December 20
5	7.0	0	Fiji	( )	214.6	August 18

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw  Fiji
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[1][2]	Philippines, off the southeast coast of Mindanao	6.9	35.0	VII
1[3]	Fiji	7.8	485.0
18[4]	Dutch East Indies, southwest of Sumatra	6.3	35.0

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw 2 events
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[5]	Chile, off the coast of Los Lagos Region	7.2	15.0
2[6]	Argentina, Chubut Province	7.2	15.0
9[7]	Chile, off the coast of Los Lagos Region	6.8	15.0		Aftershock.
21[8]	Philippines, Burias (island)	6.5	50.0

April

April

Strongest magnitude	8.1 Mw  Tonga
Deadliest	5.9 Mw  El Salvador 100+ deaths
Total fatalities	100+
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	3
5.0–5.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[9]	Dutch East Indies, southern Sumatra	6.4	20.0
17[10]	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	7.2	35.0
17[11]	Guatemala, Retalhuleu Department	6.8	35.0
27[12][13]	Philippines, off the southwest coast of Mindoro	6.6	15.0	VIII	Some damage and landslides were caused.
28[14]	El Salvador, San Salvador	5.9	0.0		At least 100 deaths were reported. Many homes were damaged.	100+
30[15][16][17]	Tonga	8.1	25.0		Some minor damage was reported as well as a tsunami.

May

May

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw  New Guinea
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[18]	Rhodesia, Eastern Province, Rhodesia	6.7	15.0
3[19]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	7.2	15.0
6[20][21]	New Guinea, southeast of New Ireland (island)	7.8	35.0		A few homes were damaged.
23[22]	Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan	6.5	35.0

June

June

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[23]	Taiwan, north of	7.1	35.0
29[24]	Italy, Tuscany	6.2	33.0	X
29[25]	El Salvador, off the coast of	6.6	20.0
30[26]	Ethiopia, SNNPR	6.5	15.0

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw Tanganyika
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
8[27]	Tanganyika, Rukwa Region	7.2	15.0
11[28]	Venezuela, Tachira	6.2	35.0
22[29]	Nicaragua, Chontales Department	6.5	150.0
24[30]	China, southern Xinjiang Province	6.5	20.0

August

August

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw Fiji
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3[31]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.7	35.0
18[32]	Fiji	7.0	214.6
29[33]	Dutch East Indies, northeast of Buru	6.9	15.0
31[34]	New Hebrides, eastern Espiritu Santo	6.8	35.0

September

September

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw Philippines
Total fatalities	0
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
6[35]	United Kingdom, north of the British Virgin Islands	6.2	35.0
26[36]	Philippines, western Mindanao	6.6	35.0

October

October

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw Fiji
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	4

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3[37]	Fiji, western Rabi Island	6.9	0.0	VIII	Some damage was reported. Depth unknown.
11[38]	Japan, Akita Prefecture, Honshu	6.2	35.0
12[39]	Dutch East Indies, off the southwest coast of Sumatra	6.5	25.0
31[40]	South Africa, northern Transvaal (present-day Limpopo)	6.5	35.0

November

November

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw British Solomon Islands
Deadliest	7.0 Mw   Turkey 3,000 deaths
Total fatalities	3,000
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
18[41]	Turkey, Balıkesir Province	7.0	10.0	IX	The 1919 Ayvalık earthquake caused at least 3,000 fatalities and badly damaged 16,000 buildings.	3,000
20[42]	British Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands	6.8	113.0
21[43]	Dutch East Indies, off the coast of Papua (province)	0.0	0.0	VIII	A few homes were destroyed. Magnitude and depth unknown.

December

December

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw Taiwan
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
20[44]	Taiwan, east of	7.1	35.0
20[45]	Taiwan, east of	6.9	20.0		Doublet earthquake.

References

1. "M 6.9 – Mindanao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. January 1, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
2. "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: MINDANAO ISLAND". National Geophysical Data Center. January 1, 1919. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
3. "M 7.8 – Fiji region". United States Geological Survey. January 1, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
4. "M 6.3 – southern Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. January 18, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
5. "M 7.2 – off the coast of Los Lagos, Chile". United States Geological Survey. March 2, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
6. "M 7.2 – Chubut, Argentina". United States Geological Survey. March 2, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
7. "M 6.8 – offshore Los Lagos, Chile". United States Geological Survey. March 9, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
8. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. March 21, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
9. "M 6.4 – southern Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. April 2, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
10. "M 7.2 – Kermadec Islands, New Zealand". United States Geological Survey. April 17, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
11. "M 6.8 – Guatemala". United States Geological Survey. April 17, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
12. "M 6.6 – Mindoro, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. April 27, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
13. "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: NW PANAY, SW TABLAS, CARABAO I". National Geophysical Data Center. April 27, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
14. "Significant Earthquake: EL SALVADOR: SAN SALVADOR". National Geophysical Data Center. April 28, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
15. "M 8.1 – Tonga region". United States Geological Survey. April 30, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
16. "Significant Earthquake: TONGA ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. April 30, 1919. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
17. "Tsunami Event: TONGA ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. April 30, 1919. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
18. "M 6.7 – Zambia". United States Geological Survey. May 1, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
19. "M 7.2 – off the east coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. May 3, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
20. "M 7.8 – New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. May 6, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
21. "Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: SOLOMON ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. May 6, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
22. "M 6.5 – Pakistan". United States Geological Survey. May 23, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
23. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 1, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
24. "Significant Earthquake: ITALY: N". National Geophysical Data Center. June 29, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
25. "M 6.6 – offshore El Salvador". United States Geological Survey. June 29, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
26. "M 6.5 – Ethiopia". United States Geological Survey. June 30, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
27. "M 7.2 – Lake Tanganyika region, Tanzania-Zambia". United States Geological Survey. July 8, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
28. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 11, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
29. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 22, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
30. "M 6.5 – southern Xinjiang, China". United States Geological Survey. July 24, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
31. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 3, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
32. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 18, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
33. "M 6.9 – Seram, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. August 29, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
34. "M 6.8 – Vanuatu". United States Geological Survey. August 31, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
35. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. September 6, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
36. "M 6.6 – Mindanao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. September 26, 1919. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
37. "Significant Earthquake: FIJI ISLANDS: RABI,TUNULOA MISSION,SUVASAVU". National Geophysical Data Center. October 3, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
38. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 11, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
39. "M 6.5 – southern Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. October 12, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
40. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. October 31, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
41. "M 7.0 – 3 km ESE of Soma, Turkey". United States Geological Survey. November 18, 1919. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
42. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 20, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
43. "Significant Earthquake: INDONESIA: IRIAN JAYA REGION". National Geophysical Data Center. November 21, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
44. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. December 20, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
45. "M 6.9 – Taiwan region". United States Geological Survey. December 20, 1919. Retrieved December 13, 2015.