This is a list of earthquakes in 1973. 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. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap data. Both the number of large events and the death toll were substantially lower in 1973. There was 9 magnitude 7.0+ events. The largest of these was in Japan measuring 7.7. Russia and New Hebrides were active during the year with each country having 2 magnitude 7.0+ events. Nearly 3,000 deaths were reported with China being worst affected. Mexico also had a significant death toll.
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
Earthquakes in 1973Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1973
|
Strongest magnitude | Japan off the east coast of Hokkaido (Magnitude 7.7) June 17 |
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Deadliest | China, Sichuan Province (Magnitude 7.4) February 6, 2,199 deaths |
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Total fatalities | 2,899 |
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|
9.0+ | 0 |
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8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 9 |
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6.0–6.9 | 57 |
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5.0–5.9 | 1333 |
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4.0–4.9 | 2557 |
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By death toll
More information Rank, Death toll ...
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- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
More information Rank, Magnitude ...
Rank |
Magnitude |
Death toll |
Location |
MMI |
Depth (km) |
Date |
1 |
7.7 |
0 |
Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido |
VIII (Severe)
|
48.0 |
June 17 |
2 |
7.5 |
56 |
Mexico, Michoacán |
X (Extreme)
|
43.0 |
January 30 |
2 |
7.5 |
0 |
New Hebrides, Vanuatu |
VIII (Severe)
|
26.0 |
December 28 |
3 |
7.4 |
2,199 |
China, Sichuan Province |
X (Extreme)
|
33.0 |
February 6 |
4 |
7.2 |
0 |
Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia |
VIII (Severe)
|
27.0 |
February 28 |
4 |
7.2 |
0 |
New Hebrides, Vanuatu |
VIII (Severe)
|
47.0 |
December 29 |
5 |
7.1 |
0 |
Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia |
VIII (Severe)
|
50.0 |
June 24 |
6 |
7.0 |
15 |
Philippines, Luzon |
IX (Violent)
|
33.0 |
March 17 |
6 |
7.0 |
0 |
United Kingdom, east of the South Sandwich Islands |
( )
|
33.0 |
October 6 |
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- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
January
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
JanuaryStrongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw Mexico |
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Deadliest | 7.5 Mw Mexico 56 deaths |
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Total fatalities | 56 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 1 |
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6.0–6.9 | 4 |
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5.0–5.9 | 101 |
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4.0–4.9 | 193 |
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February
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
FebruaryStrongest magnitude | 7.4 Mw China |
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Deadliest | 7.4 Mw China 2,199 deaths |
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Total fatalities | 2,199 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 2 |
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6.0–6.9 | 2 |
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5.0–5.9 | 96 |
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4.0–4.9 | 204 |
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
1[11] | Argentina, Jujuy Province | 6.1 | 229.0 |
| | | |
6[12][13][14][15] | China, Sichuan Province | 7.4 | 33.0 | X
| Deadliest event of 1973. 2,199 people were killed and 2,743 were injured in the 1973 Luhuo earthquake. 168 homes were destroyed. | 2,199 | 2,743 |
21[16][17][18] | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay Region, North Island | 5.1 | 38.0 | VI
| Some damage was caused. | | |
21[19][20][21] | United States, southern California | 5.3 | 10.0 | VII
| The 1973 Point Mugu earthquake caused $1 million (1973 rate) in property damage. | | |
24[22][23] | Iran, Fars Province | 5.2 | 27.0 |
| Major damage was caused. | | |
24[24] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 59.0 |
| | | |
28[25][26][27] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.2 | 27.0 | VIII
| Some damage was caused. | | |
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March
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
MarchStrongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw Philippines |
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Deadliest | 7.0 Mw Philippines 15 deaths |
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Total fatalities | 15 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 1 |
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6.0–6.9 | 4 |
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5.0–5.9 | 105 |
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4.0–4.9 | 208 |
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
4[28] | Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka, Russia | 6.1 | 32.0 |
| | | |
9[29][30][31] | Australia, New South Wales | 5.5 | 13.0 | VII
| Property damage was caused with costs reaching $500,000 (1973 rate). | | |
12[32][33] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 54.0 | V
| Aftershock of February 28 event. | | |
17[34] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 194.0 |
| | | |
17[35][36][37] | Philippines, Luzon | 7.0 | 33.0 | VII
| The 1973 Ragay Gulf earthquake killed 15 people and 64 others were injured. Damage costs were around $450,000 (1973 rate). | 15 | 64 |
18[38] | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 6.5 | 33.0 |
| | | |
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April
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
AprilStrongest magnitude | 6.6 Mw India |
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Deadliest | 6.5 Mw Costa Rica 26 deaths |
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Total fatalities | 27 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 0 |
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6.0–6.9 | 8 |
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5.0–5.9 | 88 |
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4.0–4.9 | 287 |
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
1[39][40][41] | France, Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti | 5.9 | 31.0 | VII
| Some damage was caused. | | |
3[42][43] | Colombia, Quindío Department | 6.2 | 158.0 | IV
| | | |
7[44] | India, Nicobar Islands | 6.6 | 33.0 |
| | | |
8[45][46] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI
| | | |
12[47] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 52.0 |
| Aftershock of February 28 event. | | |
14[48][49][50] | Costa Rica, Alajuela Province | 6.5 | 33.0 | VI
| 26 people were killed and 100 were injured. Damage costs were $200,000 (1973 rate). | 26 | 100 |
17[51][52] | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI
| | | |
24[53][54][55] | Colombia, off the west coast of | 6.5 | 50.0 | IV
| 1 person died and some damage was reported. | 1 | |
26[56][57][58] | United States, Hawaii (island) | 6.2 | 36.9 | VIII
| 11 people were injured and some property damage was reported. Costs were $5.75 million (1973 rate). | | 11 |
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May
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
MayStrongest magnitude | 6.0 Mw United States |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
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6.0–6.9 | 1 |
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5.0–5.9 | 83 |
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4.0–4.9 | 190 |
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
29[59][60] | United States, Unimak Island, Alaska | 6.0 | 30.0 | V
| Although in a remote location this was the only magnitude 6.0+ event of the month. | | |
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June
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
JuneStrongest magnitude | 7.7 Mw Japan |
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Total fatalities | 0 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 2 |
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6.0–6.9 | 4 |
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5.0–5.9 | 155 |
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4.0–4.9 | 269 |
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July
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
JulyStrongest magnitude | 6.9 Mw China |
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Total fatalities | 0 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 0 |
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6.0–6.9 | 7 |
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5.0–5.9 | 153 |
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4.0–4.9 | 234 |
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August
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
AugustStrongest magnitude | 6.8 Mw Mexico |
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Deadliest | 6.8 Mw Mexico 600 deaths |
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Total fatalities | 600 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 0 |
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6.0–6.9 | 10 |
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5.0–5.9 | 104 |
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4.0–4.9 | 189 |
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
1[88][89] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.1 | 200.0 | IV
| | | |
5[90] | Tonga | 6.1 | 33.0 |
| | | |
7[91][92] | Chile, off the coast of Atacama Region | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI
| Foreshock. | | |
7[93][94] | Chile, off the coast of Atacama Region | 6.3 | 14.0 | VII
| | | |
9[95][96] | Soviet Union, southern Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.0 | 55.0 | V
| | | |
11[97][98] | China, Sichuan Province | 6.1 | 33.0 | VII
| | | |
13[99][100] | Australia, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea | 6.0 | 112.0 | IV
| | | |
16[101][102] | China, Yunnan Province | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI
| | | |
18[103][104] | Philippines, west of Panay | 6.1 | 14.0 | VI
| | | |
28[105][106][107] | Mexico, Oaxaca | 6.8 | 84.0 | VIII
| The 1973 Veracruz earthquake caused 600 deaths as well as major damage. | 600 | |
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September
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
SeptemberStrongest magnitude | 6.5 Mw North Korea |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
---|
7.0–7.9 | 0 |
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6.0–6.9 | 3 |
---|
5.0–5.9 | 96 |
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4.0–4.9 | 173 |
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October
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
OctoberStrongest magnitude | 7.0 Mw United Kingdom |
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Total fatalities | 0 |
---|
|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 1 |
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6.0–6.9 | 5 |
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5.0–5.9 | 99 |
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4.0–4.9 | 232 |
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November
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Deadliest ...
NovemberStrongest magnitude | 6.4 Mw United States |
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Deadliest | 2 events caused 1 death each in Iran and Portugal |
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Total fatalities | 2 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 0 |
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6.0–6.9 | 6 |
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5.0–5.9 | 128 |
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4.0–4.9 | 188 |
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More information Date, Country and location ...
Date |
Country and location |
Mw |
Depth (km) |
MMI |
Notes |
Casualties |
Dead |
Injured |
4[125][126][127] | Greece, off the west coast | 5.8 | 8.0 | VIII
| Some damage was reported. | | |
6[128][129] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.4 | 34.0 |
rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | | |
6[130][131] | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.3 | 41.0 | IV
| | |
8[132][133] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 33.0 |
rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | | |
11[134] | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.0 | 51.0 |
| | |
11[135][136][137] | Iran, Fars Province | 5.5 | 11.0 | VII
| 1 person was killed and major damage was reported. | 1 | |
19[138][139] | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.1 | 56.0 | VI
| | | |
23[140][141][142] | Portugal, Azores Islands | 5.1 | 5.0 | VIII
| 1 person died and some damage was caused. | 1 | |
29[143][144][145] | Greece, south of Crete | 5.7 | 26.0 | VIII
| Some damage was reported. | | |
30[146][147] | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 124.0 | IV
| | | |
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December
Quick Facts Strongest magnitude, Total fatalities ...
DecemberStrongest magnitude | 7.5 Mw New Hebrides, Vanuatu |
---|
Total fatalities | 0 |
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|
8.0–8.9 | 0 |
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7.0–7.9 | 2 |
---|
6.0–6.9 | 4 |
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5.0–5.9 | 125 |
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4.0–4.9 | 190 |
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