List of earthquakes in 1961

This is a list of earthquakes in 1961. 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. A fairly busy year although the largest event was only a magnitude 7.6. This was a big contrast to 1960 which had three events above magnitude 8. Peru had the largest event. Japan had five magnitude 7.0+ events. Overall there was not a great deal of deaths with the total being 128. Iran had the most with 60 from an event in June.

Earthquakes in 1961

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1961 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Peru, Madre de Dios Region, (Magnitude 7.6) August 19
Deadliest	Iran, Fars province (Magnitude 6.4) June 11 60 deaths
Total fatalities	128
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	15
6.0–6.9	91
5.0–5.9	2
← 1960 1962 →

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	60	6.4	Iran, Fars province	VIII (Severe)	15.0	June 11
2	30	6.2	Ethiopia, Amhara Region	IX (Violent)	25.0	June 1
3	23	6.7	Colombia, Tolima Department	( )	162.9	December 20
4	10	6.8	Japan, Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu	VII (Very strong)	15.0	August 19

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	7.6	0	Peru, Madre de Dios Region	( )	612.2	August 19
= 2	7.5	2	Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu	X (Extreme)	35.0	February 26
= 2	7.5	0	Peru, Ucayali Region	( )	619.9	August 31
3	7.4	0	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	( )	421.1	June 18
= 4	7.3	0	Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini	( )	144.8	March 28
= 4	7.3	0	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	VII (Very strong)	25.0	July 23
= 4	7.3	0	United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands	( )	129.2	September 1
= 5	7.2	0	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	V (Moderate)	30.0	January 16
= 5	7.2	0	Peru, Madre de Dios Region	( )	597.5	August 31
= 6	7.1	0	Japan, eastern Hokkaido	VIII (Severe)	43.9	August 11
= 6	7.1	0	United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands	( )	100.9	September 8
= 7	7.0	0	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	V (Moderate)	30.0	January 16
= 7	7.0	0	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	( )	30.0	March 7
= 7	7.0	0	China, southern Xinjiang Province	IX (Violent)	35.0	April 13
= 7	7.0	0	Japan, Ryukyu Islands	V (Moderate)	30.6	July 18

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	7.2 Mw  Japan
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	9

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2[1]	United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands	6.8	79.3
5[2]	United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska	6.5	31.9
5[3]	Australia, East Sepik Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.9	142.7
5[4]	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	6.6	35.0	rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake.
5[5]	France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	6.6	35.0
10[6][7]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russian SFSR	6.6	58.5	VI
16[8][9]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	7.2	30.0	V
16[10][11]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.3	30.0	IV	Aftershock.
16[12][13]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	7.0	30.0	V	Aftershock.
16[14][15]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.7	30.0	V	Aftershock.
22[16]	United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands	6.8	15.0

February

February

Strongest magnitude	7.5 Mw  Japan
Deadliest	7.5 Mw  Japan 2 deaths
Total fatalities	2
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	8

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
4[17]	Taiwan, off the east coast	6.1	35.0
6[18][19]	Australia, Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea	6.5	45.0	VI
12[20][21]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.9	38.1	V
12[22]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.3	34.0		Aftershock.
14[23]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.0	45.7		Aftershock.
15[24]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.1	33.9		Aftershock.
26[25][26][27]	Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu	7.5	35.0	X	2 people were killed and a further 7 were injured. 170 homes were damaged and another 170 were destroyed. A tsunami was reported.	2	7
26[28]	Philippines, Luzon	6.1	15.0
27[29]	United States, Fox Islands (Alaska)	6.1	30.0

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw  Indonesia
Deadliest	6.5 Mw  Indonesia 2 deaths
Total fatalities	2
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	7

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
7[30]	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	7.0	30.0
7[31]	China, Hubei Province	4.9	0.0	VII	25 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth.
11[32][33]	France, Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti	6.2	15.0	VIII
15[34][35]	Australia, west of New Ireland (island), Papua and New Guinea	6.1	30.0	V
16[36][37][38]	Indonesia, off the north coast of Flores	6.5	45.0	VIII	2 people were killed and a further 6 were injured. Some damage was caused.	2	6
16[39][40]	Indonesia, Flores	6.0	35.0	VI	Aftershock.
18[41]	New Zealand, Auckland Islands	6.7	15.0
20[42]	Tonga	6.8	213.0
28[43]	Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini	7.3	144.8
28[44]	United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska	6.1	45.4

April

April

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw  China
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	7

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[45][46]	China, southern Xinjiang Province	6.8	20.0	VIII
4[47][48]	China, southern Xinjiang Province	6.3	20.0	VII	Aftershock.
8[49][50]	Chile, Araucania Region	6.2	25.0	VI
8[51]	United States, Northern Mariana Islands	6.5	104.6
9[52][53]	Taiwan, off the east coast	6.9	35.0	VI
12[54][55]	El Salvador, San Vicente Department	6.0	65.0	V
13[56][57][58]	China, southern Xinjiang Province	7.0	35.0	IX	53 homes were destroyed.
23[59]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.7	31.6

May

May

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw  United Kingdom
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	10

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
7[60][61]	Australia, west of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea	6.2	60.0	V
7[62]	Philippines, east of Mindanao	6.3	75.0
11[63][64]	Chile, Bio-Bio Region	6.1	25.0	VI
16[65]	Japan, southeast of Kyushu	6.0	25.5
22[66]	Tonga	6.0	27.0
23[67][68]	Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province	6.4	35.0	VI
23[69][70]	Nicaragua, Chinandega Department	6.2	102.4	V
28[71]	United Kingdom, south of Fiji	6.6	228.0
31[72]	Mexico, Gulf of California	6.0	15.0
31[73][74]	Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.0	50.0	V

June

June

Strongest magnitude	7.4 Mw  New Zealand
Deadliest	6.4 Mw  Iran 60 deaths
Total fatalities	90
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	10
5.0–5.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[75][76][77]	Ethiopia, Amhara Region	6.2	25.0	IX	30 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused.	30	101+
2[78][79]	Ethiopia, Amhara Region	6.0	20.0	VIII	Aftershock.
4[80][81]	China, western Xizang Province	6.2	15.0	VII
9[82]	Soviet Union, Caspian Sea, offshore Azerbaijan	6.0	35.0
11[83][84][85]	Iran, Fars province	6.4	15.0	VIII	60 people were killed and major damage was caused.	60
11[86][87][88]	China, Yunnan Province	5.6	15.0	VIII	5,740 homes were destroyed.
14[89]	Guatemala, off the west coast	6.0	100.0
16[90]	Colombia, Cesar Department	6.2	114.4
18[91]	New Zealand, Kermadec Islands	7.4	421.1
19[92][93]	Philippines, off the west coast of Tablas Island	6.0	25.0	VI
19[94]	Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province	6.7	195.1
27[95][96][97]	China, Yunnan Province	6.1	15.0	VIII	11,400 homes were destroyed.

July

July

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw  New Hebrides
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	8

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
6[98]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.6	34.9
7[99][100]	Australia, West New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea	6.5	48.4	VI
8[101]	France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	6.1	35.0	rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake.
8[102]	France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia	6.2	35.0
18[103][104]	Japan, Ryukyu Islands	7.0	30.6	V
23[105]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.1	25.0		Foreshock.
23[106]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.0	25.0		Foreshock.
23[107][108][109]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	7.3	25.0	VII	A tsunami was caused with minor damage being reported.
26[110]	New Zealand, off the north coast	6.5	145.0
28[111][112]	Ecuador, Pastaza Province	6.6	142.1	V

August

August

Strongest magnitude	7.6 Mw  Peru
Deadliest	6.8 Mw  Japan 10 deaths
Total fatalities	10
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	4
6.0–6.9	5

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[113][114]	United Kingdom, eastern Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands	6.4	25.0	VI
11[115][116]	Japan, eastern Hokkaido	7.1	43.9	VIII
11[117][118]	Indonesia, eastern Sulawesi	6.0	20.0	VII
14[119]	New Hebrides, Vanuatu	6.0	50.0
17[120]	Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia	6.5	151.0
19[121]	Peru, Madre de Dios Region	7.6	612.2
19[122][123][124]	Japan, Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu	6.8	15.0	VII	10 people were killed and some damage was caused.	10
31[125]	Peru, Madre de Dios Region	7.2	597.5		Foreshock.
31[126]	Peru, Ucayali Region	7.5	619.9

September

September

Strongest magnitude	7.3 Mw  United Kingdom
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	7

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[127]	United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands	7.3	129.2
5[128]	Soviet Union, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan	6.0	130.0
5[129][130]	United States, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska	6.0	44.0	VI
8[131]	United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands	7.1	100.9
11[132]	Venezuela, off the coast of	6.1	120.6
17[133]	Taiwan, off the east coast	6.1	34.1
19[134]	Bolivia, Chuquisaca Department	6.5	574.8
20[135]	Australia, eastern Bismarck Sea, Papua and New Guinea	6.0	15.0
29[136]	Indonesia, Minahasa Peninsula	6.0	75.0

October

October

Strongest magnitude	6.8 Mw  Indonesia
Deadliest	6.6 Mw  Chile 1 death
Total fatalities	1+
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	7
5.0–5.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
1[137]	China, Gansu Province	5.7	0.0	VII	10 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth.
8[138]	Indonesia, west of Halmahera	6.8	120.0
10[139]	Indonesia, Papua (province)	6.3	265.0
18[140][141][142]	Chile, Concepcion, Chile	6.6	20.0	VII	At least 1 person was killed and some damage was caused.	1+
19[143]	Argentina, Neuquen Province	6.2	149.0
23[144]	Indonesia, Talaud Islands	6.2	15.0
26[145]	Australia, Bismarck Sea, Papua and New Guinea	6.5	20.0
26[146][147]	Indonesia, Batu Islands	6.2	28.9	VI

November

November

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw  Indonesia
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	5

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
15[148][149]	Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido	6.5	43.0	VII
16[150]	Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province	6.0	155.0
19[151]	Indonesia, Minahasa Peninsula	6.6	185.0
27[152][153]	Japan, off the southeast coast of Kyushu	6.2	65.0	VI
27[154][155]	Indonesia, Bacan Islands	6.2	25.0	VI

December

December

Strongest magnitude	6.7 Mw 2 events
Deadliest	6.7 Mw  Colombia 23 deaths
Total fatalities	23
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	8

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
4[156][157]	China, southern Qinghai Province	6.1	15.8	VII
9[158]	Chile, off the coast of Los Lagos Region	6.7	25.0
14[159][160]	Indonesia, Papua (province)	6.0	15.0	VI
20[161][162]	Colombia, Tolima Department	6.7	162.9		23 people were killed and major damage was caused.	23
24[163]	Japan, Hokkaido	6.0	118.0
24[164][165]	Chile, off the coast of Bio-Bio Region	6.1	25.0	VI
27[166][167]	New Zealand, Wellington Region, North Island	6.4	20.0	VII
30[168]	United States, Rat Islands, Alaska	6.5	15.0