Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

List of earthquakes in 1940

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Total fatalities
  
1,485

8.0−8.9
  
1

9.0+
  
0

List of earthquakes in 1940

4.0−5.9 magnitude 6.0−6.9 magnitude
  
7.0−7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude

Strongest magnitude
  
Lima Region, Peru (Magnitude 8.2) May 24

Deadliest
  
Vrancea County, Romania (Magnitude 7.8) November 10 1,000 deaths

This is a list of earthquakes in 1940. 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. Overall, with 13 magnitude 7.0+ events worldwide, this was a fairly busy year. The death toll was substantially lower than 1939. The most significant event in terms of lives lost was in Romania in November with 1,000 deaths. Other quakes in China and Peru resulted in significant fatalities.

Contents

By death toll

  • Note: At least 10 casualties

    • By magnitude

  • Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

    • January

  • A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands on January 6 at a depth of 180.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on January 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Inner Mongolia, China on January 19 at a depth of 35.0 km. At least 51 people were killed and many homes collapsed.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southeast of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on January 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.

    • February

  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck northern California on February 8 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Atacama Region, Chile on February 12 at a depth of 70.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck south of Fiji on February 12 at a depth of 220.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck south of the Alaska Peninsula on February 12 at a depth of 45.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Vanuatu on February 20 at a depth of 210.0 km.
  • An earthquake struck off the west coast of Nicaragua on February 20. The magnitude and depth were unknown. Some damage was reported.
  • An earthquake struck Kayseri Province, Turkey on February 20. The magnitude and depth were unknown. Thirty-seven deaths and some damage were reported.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua New Guinea on February 24 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Delta Amacuro, Venezuela on February 27 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck north of Crete, Greece on February 29 at a depth of 35.0 km.

    • March

  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Bonin Islands, Japan on March 9 at a depth of 500.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Nuristan Province, Afghanistan on March 19 at a depth of 50.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck west of Luzon, Philippines on March 28 at a depth of 200.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Arica y Parinacota Region, Chile on March 31 a depth of 50.0 km.

    • April

  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on April 1 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Volcano Islands, Japan on April 5 at a depth of 220.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on April 6 at a depth of 35.0 km. One-hundred and eighty-one people died with another 475 hurt and 11,556 destroyed homes.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Valparaiso Region, Chile on April 8 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Near Islands, Alaska on April 16 at a depth of 30.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Near Islands, Alaska on April 16 at a depth of 30.0 km. This is an example of a doublet earthquake.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Shiga Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on April 20 at a depth of 400.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu on April 27 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu on April 27 at a depth of 35.0 km.

    • May

  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Chaco Province, Argentina on May 1 at a depth of 580.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran on May 4 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of northern Peru on May 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Imereti, Georgia (country) on May 7 at a depth of 50.0 km. Sixteen people were killed and some damage was caused.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Sagaing Region, Burma on May 11 at a depth of 80.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck southern California on May 19 at a depth of 6.0 km. Nine people died and property damage costs were $33 million (1940 rate).
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Sea of Okhotsk on May 19 at a depth of 575.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Gaza Province, Mozambique on May 19 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Fiji on May 21 at a depth of 350.0 km.
  • A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Lima Region, Peru on May 24 at a depth of 45.0 km. Many homes were destroyed, with 179 deaths and 3,500 injuries.
  • A magnitude 6.6 aftershock struck Lima Region, Peru on May 24 at a depth of 45.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on May 27 at a depth of 240.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on May 28 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the border of Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory, Canada on May 29 at a depth of 35.0 km.

    • June

  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Gulf of California, Mexico on June 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Northwest Territories, Canada on June 5 at a depth of 10.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Papua New Guinea on June 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on June 11 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southeast of Honshu, Japan on June 12 at a depth of 100.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck northeast of Hawaii on June 17 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Moro Gulf, Philippines on June 18 at a depth of 570.0 km.
  • A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on June 19 at an unknown depth. Two deaths and 20 injuries were caused. Many homes collapsed.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia on June 22 at a depth of 170.0 km.

    • July

  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck St Vincent and the Grenadines on July 6 at a depth of 160.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Heilongjiang Province, China on July 10 at a depth of 575.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Rat Islands, Alaska on July 14 at a depth of 120.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Celebes Sea on July 21 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Escuintla Department, Guatemala on July 27 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Yozgat Province, Turkey on July 30 at a depth of 35.0 km.

    • August

  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck south of Fiji on August 1 at a depth of 500.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the eastern Sea of Japan on August 1 at a depth of 15.0 km. Ten people drowned due to a tsunami which followed. This also caused 20 homes to be destroyed.
  • A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Liaoning Province, China on August 5 at an unknown depth. Eleven-hundred and ninety homes were destroyed.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on August 7 at a depth of 110.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the southern Sea of Japan on August 13 at a depth of 10.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Fox Islands (Alaska) on August 22 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Junin Region, Peru on August 26 at a depth of 110.0 km.

    • September

  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Celebes Sea on September 12 at a depth of 160.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southeast New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on September 12 at a depth of 75.5 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on September 18 at a depth of 110.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southeast of the Loyalty Islands on September 19 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on September 21 at a depth of 250.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Mindanao, Philippines on September 22 at a depth of 640.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Salta Province, Argentina on September 23 at a depth of 550.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Acre (state), Brazil on September 24 at a depth of 600.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands on September 26 at a depth of 135.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Mendoza Province, Argentina on September 29 at a depth of 110.0 km.

    • October

  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Atacama Region, Chile on October 1 at a depth of 45.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Tarapaca Region, Chile on October 3 at a depth of 110.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Xizang Province, China on October 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Tarapaca Region, Chile on October 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica on October 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Tarapaca Region, Chile on October 6 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southeast of Mindanao, Philippines on October 7 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southern Alaska on October 11 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Chiloe Island, Los Lagos Region, Chile on October 11 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vrancea County, Romania on October 22 at a depth of 150.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Pastaza Province, Ecuador on October 23 at a depth of 140.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck O'Higgins Region, Chile on October 24 at a depth of 45.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica on October 27 at a depth of 35.0 km.

    • November

  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck south of Honshu, Japan on November 7 at a depth of 440.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Vrancea County, Romania on November 10 at a depth of 90.0 km. Despite the depth of the quake 1,000 deaths were caused. Property damage was $10 million (1940 rate).
  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on November 19 at a depth of 44.2 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Primorsky Krai, Russia on November 22 at a depth of 570.0 km.

    • December

  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Seram, Indonesia on December 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua (province), Indonesia on December 17 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Eastern Province, Zambia on December 18 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on December 18 at a depth of 150.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck La Paz Department (Bolivia) on December 22 at a depth of 220.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on December 28 at a depth of 15.0 km.

    • References

    List of earthquakes in 1940 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA