This is a list of earthquakes in 1938. 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 was once again a very busy year with 22 events reaching 7.0+. Topping the list was a huge quake which struck the Banda Sea, Dutch East Indies in February. At a magnitude of 8.5 this was one of the largest earthquakes of all time. Despite the large size no deaths were reported. Despite the array of large events, the death toll for the year was only 296. Turkey saw the majority of the deaths due to a 6.6 magnitude event in April. November saw a series of large quakes strike off the east coast of Honshu, Japan. Also in November was a magnitude 8.3 which struck Alaska. Generally Dutch East Indies and Japan saw most of the large 7.0+ events.
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By magnitude
More information Rank, Magnitude ...
Rank |
Magnitude |
Death toll |
Location |
MMI |
Depth (km) |
Date |
1 |
8.5 |
0 |
Dutch East Indies, Banda Sea |
( )
|
25.0 |
February 1 |
2 |
8.2 |
0 |
United States, south of the Alaska Peninsula |
VI (Strong)
|
35.0 |
November 10 |
3 |
7.8 |
1 |
Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( )
|
35.0 |
November 5 |
= 4 |
7.7 |
0 |
New Guinea, Morobe Province |
( )
|
35.0 |
May 12 |
= 4 |
7.7 |
17 |
Dutch East Indies, Makassar Strait |
IX (Violent)
|
35.0 |
May 19 |
= 4 |
7.7 |
0 |
Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( )
|
15.0 |
May 23 |
= 4 |
7.7 |
0 |
Japan, Ryukyu Islands |
( )
|
20.0 |
June 10 |
= 4 |
7.7 |
0 |
Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( )
|
35.0 |
November 5 |
= 4 |
7.7 |
0 |
Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( )
|
30.0 |
November 6 |
5 |
7.6 |
0 |
Japan, off the east coast of Honshu |
( )
|
25.0 |
November 6 |
6 |
7.5 |
0 |
Japan, Ryukyu Islands |
( )
|
20.0 |
June 16 |
= 7 |
7.3 |
0 |
Dutch East Indies, Molucca Sea |
( )
|
15.0 |
October 10 |
= 7 |
7.3 |
0 |
Dutch East Indies, northwest of Timor |
( )
|
90.0 |
October 20 |
8 |
7.2 |
0 |
Taiwan, Hualien County |
( )
|
15.0 |
September 7 |
= 9 |
7.1 |
0 |
Philippines, west of Luzon |
( )
|
15.0 |
May 23 |
= 9 |
7.1 |
0 |
France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia |
( )
|
35.0 |
May 30 |
= 9 |
7.1 |
0 |
Mongolia, Bayan-Ölgii Province |
( )
|
10.0 |
October 19 |
= 10 |
7.0 |
0 |
Scotia Sea |
( )
|
10.0 |
January 24 |
= 10 |
7.0 |
2 |
Colombia, Quindío Department |
VIII (Severe)
|
150.0 |
February 5 |
= 10 |
7.0 |
0 |
British Burma, Chin State |
( )
|
75.0 |
August 16 |
= 10 |
7.0 |
0 |
Philippines, Samar Sea |
( )
|
15.0 |
August 29 |
= 10 |
7.0 |
0 |
New Zealand, Southland, New Zealand |
( )
|
15.0 |
December 16 |
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- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
January
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
JanuaryStrongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw Scotia Sea |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
1[1] | Japan, Volcano Islands | 6.6 | 60.0 |
| | | |
2[2][3] | Mexico, off the coast of Oaxaca | 6.5 | 25.0 | VII
| Major damage was reported. | | |
7[4] | New Guinea, west of New Ireland (island) | 6.5 | 15.0 |
| | | |
10[5] | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.2 | 60.0 |
| | | |
11[6] | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 25.0 |
| | | |
16[7] | Peru, Loreto Region | 6.0 | 100.0 |
| | | |
18[8] | Dutch East Indies, off the west coast of southern Sumatra | 6.5 | 100.0 |
| | | |
22[9] | Dutch East Indies, Sunda Strait | 6.0 | 150.0 |
| | | |
23[10][11] | United States, north of Maui, Hawaii | 6.6 | 10.0 | VII
| Damage was caused with costs being reported at $150,000 (1938 rate). Landslides were observed as well as cracks in roads. | | |
24[12] | Scotia Sea | 7.0 | 10.0 |
| | | |
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February
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March
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
MarchStrongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw Canada |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
---|
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April
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
AprilStrongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw 3 events |
---|
Deadliest | 6.6 Mw Turkey 224 deaths |
---|
Total fatalities | 224 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 9 |
---|
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May
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
MayStrongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw 3 events |
---|
Deadliest | 6.0 Mw British Burma 51 deaths |
---|
Total fatalities | 69+ |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 5 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
3[40] | Mexico, Morelos | 6.5 | 100.0 |
| | | |
6[41] | Nicaragua, León Department | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Major damage was reported. The magnitude and depth were unknown. | | |
11[42] | Mexico, off the coast of Guerrero | 6.3 | 20.0 |
| | | |
12[43][44] | New Guinea, Morobe Province | 7.7 | 35.0 |
| Some homes were damaged or destroyed. | | |
14[45] | British Burma, Shan State | 6.0 | 0.0 | VIII
| At least 51 people were killed and some homes were destroyed. The depth was unknown. | 51+ | |
19[46][47][48] | Dutch East Indies, Makassar Strait | 7.7 | 35.0 | IX
| A tsunami caused 17 deaths in the area. 942 homes were destroyed and a further 184 sustained damage. | 17 | |
23[49] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.7 | 15.0 |
| | | |
23[50] | Philippines, west of Luzon | 7.1 | 15.0 |
| | | |
28[51][52] | Japan, Hokkaido | 6.5 | 35.0 |
| 1 person was killed due to a tsunami. 7 homes were destroyed. | 1 | |
28[53][54] | United States, off the coast of Oregon | 6.0 | 0.0 | V
| The depth was unknown. | | |
30[55] | France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 7.1 | 35.0 |
| | | |
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June
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
JuneStrongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw Japan |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
---|
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July
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
JulyStrongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw 2 events |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 8 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
5[66] | France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.6 | 35.0 |
rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | | |
6[67] | France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.5 | 75.0 |
| | |
21[68] | Kenya, Kilifi County | 6.0 | 35.0 |
| | | |
22[69] | Mexico, off the coast of Jalisco | 6.6 | 20.0 |
| | | |
23[70] | New Guinea, off the east coast of | 6.5 | 120.0 |
| | | |
24[71][72] | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.3 | 50.0 | I
| | | |
29[73] | Dutch East Indies, Batu Islands | 6.5 | 35.0 |
| | | |
31[74] | Russian SFSR, Primorsky Krai | 6.0 | 450.0 |
| | | |
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August
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
AugustStrongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw 2 events |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 2 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 6 |
---|
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September
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
SeptemberStrongest magnitude | 7.2 Mw Taiwan |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 5 |
---|
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October
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
OctoberStrongest magnitude | 7.3 Mw Dutch East Indies 2 events |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 3 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
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November
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
NovemberStrongest magnitude | 8.2 Mw United States |
---|
Deadliest | 7.5 Mw Japan 1 death |
---|
Total fatalities | 1 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 1 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 4 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 12 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
5[99][100] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.8 | 35.0 |
| 1 person was killed and 20 homes were destroyed. A tsunami was caused. Several large aftershocks followed this event. Some were almost as large as the mainshock. | 1 | |
5[101] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.7 | 35.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
6[102] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.7 | 30.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
6[103] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.6 | 25.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
7[104] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 30.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
7[105] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 30.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
9[106] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.8 | 15.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
10[107][108] | United States, south of Alaska Peninsula | 8.2 | 35.0 | VI
| This was one of the largest earthquakes in Alaskan history. The event was in a sparsely populated area so no damage was reported. | | |
11[109] | United States, south of Alaska Peninsula | 6.6 | 35.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
13[110] | Russian SFSR, Kuril Islands | 6.7 | 75.0 |
| | | |
13[111] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.9 | 35.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
14[112] | New Guinea, off the southeast coast of New Britain | 6.4 | 35.0 |
| | | |
17[113] | United States, south of Alaska Peninsula | 6.9 | 35.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
18[114] | British Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands | 6.5 | 360.0 |
| | | |
21[115] | China, Xizang Province | 6.0 | 35.0 |
| | | |
22[116] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.8 | 25.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
30[117] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.8 | 30.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
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December
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
DecemberStrongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw New Zealand |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 1 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 7 |
---|
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
6[118][119] | Taiwan, southeast of | 6.8 | 15.0 |
| 13 homes were destroyed. | | |
7[120] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.6 | 25.0 |
| Aftershock. | | |
9[121] | United States, Kodiak Island, Alaska | 6.4 | 25.0 |
| | | |
16[122] | New Zealand, Southland, New Zealand | 7.0 | 15.0 |
| | | |
16[123] | New Zealand, off the west coast of South Island | 6.6 | 15.0 |
| | | |
17[124] | Mongolia, Khovd Province | 6.6 | 10.0 |
| | | |
21[125] | Dutch East Indies, south of Sumba | 6.3 | 25.0 |
| | | |
30[126] | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay Region | 6.2 | 35.0 |
| | | |
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