Trisha Shetty (Editor)

List of earthquakes in 1951

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Total fatalities
  
2,236

8.0−8.9
  
0

9.0+
  
0

List of earthquakes in 1951

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

Strongest magnitude
  
Hualien County, Taiwan (Magnitude 7.8) November 24

Deadliest
  
off the coast of El Salvador (Magnitude 6.5) May 6, 1,100 deaths

This is a list of earthquakes in 1951. 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. Once again a very active year. One major series of earthquakes in Taiwan in October and November helped towards the upheaval. This series resulted in around 85 deaths in all. The main quakes causing most of the deaths shook neighboring parts of Central America with El Salvador in May (1,100 deaths) and Nicaragua in August (1,000 deaths) being affected. Aside from this activity China, Russia and the southwest Pacific Islands saw magnitude 7.0+ quakes.

Contents

By death toll

  • Note: At least 10 casualties

    • By magnitude

  • Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

    • January

  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck on the coastline of Araucania Region, Chile on January 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on January 6 at a depth of 215.6 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the south coast of Panama on January 6 at a depth of 54.4 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on January 8 at a depth of 55.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the north coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on January 8 at an unknown depth.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu on January 15 at a depth of 88.3 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck south of West Papua (province), Indonesia on January 15 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Mozambique Channel on January 22 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Baja California, Mexico on January 24 at a depth of 6.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck east of Taiwan on January 28 at a depth of 15.0 km.

    • February

  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand on February 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Sakha Republic, Russia on February 12 at a depth of 10.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Batu Islands, Indonesia on February 13 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Tonga on February 13 at a depth of 249.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck south of the Alaska Peninsula on February 13 at a depth of 20.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on February 17 at a depth of 180.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea on February 22 at a depth of 25.0 km.

    • March

  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on March 5 at a depth of 168.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Savu Sea, Indonesia on March 9 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Vanuatu on March 10 at a depth of 101.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan on March 10 at a depth of 64.4 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Arunachal Pradesh, India on March 12 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck eastern Xizang Province, China on March 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Inhambane Province, Mozambique on March 19 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Kamchatka Krai, Russia on March 19 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on March 23 at a depth of 220.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck eastern Nendo, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on March 24 at a depth of 157.7 km.

    • April

  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of El Salvador on April 2 at a depth of 55.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on April 2 at a depth of 60.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck south of Sumba, Indonesia on April 13 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Jujuy Province, Argentina on April 14 at a depth of 185.2 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Districts of Republican Subordination, Tajikistan on April 14 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Sakha Republic, Russia on April 14 at a depth of 10.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Arunachal Pradesh, India on April 14 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck south of Honshu, Japan on April 16 at a depth of 471.1 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Arunachal Pradesh, India on April 22 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Hawaii (island) on April 23 at a depth of 10.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the north coast of North Island, New Zealand on April 23 at a depth of 20.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Potosi Department, Bolivia on April 23 at a depth of 247.7 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Solomon Sea on April 30 at a depth of 25.0 km.

    • May

  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Usulutan Department, El Salvador on May 6 at a depth of 95.6 km. This was the first in a series of quakes to strike the area.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of El Salvador on May 6 at a depth of 85.0 km. This came only four minutes after the first event. Eleven-hundred people were killed and $23 million (1951 rate) in property damage was caused.
  • A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the coast of Usulutan Department, El Salvador on May 7 at a depth of 115.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Sofala Province, Mozambique on May 10 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of O'Higgins Region, Chile on May 10 at a depth of 32.7 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on May 15 at a depth of 53.3 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on May 16 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck west of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on May 21 at a depth of 149.8 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southern Xizang Province, China on May 28 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on May 29 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck north of Buru, Indonesia on May 30 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck north of Luzon, Philippines on May 31 at a depth of 61.4 km.

    • June

  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Sabah, Malaysia on June 2 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southeast of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan on June 5 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on June 12 at a depth of 221.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck just off the coast of Hualien, Taiwan on June 20 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Knik Arm, Alaska on June 25 at a depth of 54.3 km.

    • July

  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the south coast of Mindanao, Philippines on July 2 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck eastern Tongatapu, Tonga on July 2 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck just west of Negros, Philippines on July 8 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico on July 9 at a depth of 25.0 km. One person was killed and some damage was reported.
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Bonin Islands, Japan on July 11 at a depth of 496.7 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Madang Province, Papua New Guinea on July 16 at a depth of 96.4 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu on July 17 at a depth of 152.7 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Escuintla Department, Guatemala on July 25 at a depth of 100.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on July 26 at a depth of 45.0 km.

    • August

  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Gulf of Fonseca, Honduras on August 3 at a depth of 15.0 km. The quake caused the walls of Cosiguina volcano to collapse resulting in a cascade of the water of the crater lake to flood neighboring areas. One-thousand deaths were caused as well as major damage in the area.
  • A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck off the west coast of Nicaragua on August 6 at a depth of 55.0 km. A number of homes were destroyed.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Papua (province), Indonesia on August 12 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Karabuk Province, Turkey on August 13 at a depth of 25.0 km. Fifty people died and major damage was caused.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea, Indonesia on August 18 at a depth of 30.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck just off the west coast of Hawaii (island), Hawaii on August 21 at a depth of 10.0 km. Two people were hurt, eight homes collapsed, and 230 were in need of repair.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on August 24 at a depth of 166.8 km.

    • September

  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck south of Fiji on September 8 at a depth of 494.1 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on September 28 at a depth of 25.0 km.

    • October

  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of northern California on October 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on October 11 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck south of Shikoku, Japan on October 15 at a depth of 20.5 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Honshu, Japan on October 18 at a depth of 65.0 km.
  • A series of earthquakes struck Taiwan from October 21. One of the events (a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on October 22) left sixty-eight people dead and another 586 injured. 2,382 homes were destroyed. The events for the remainder of 1951 associated with the series have been moved to a separate table at the end of the article.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Batu Islands, Indonesia on October 31 at a depth of 50.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck the Batu Islands, Indonesia on October 31 at a depth of 30.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck the Batu Islands, Indonesia on October 31 at a depth of 30.0 km.

    • November

  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the east coast of Samar, Philippines on November 4 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on November 6 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on November 9 at a depth of 123.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on November 12 at a depth of 20.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 foreshock struck eastern Xizang Province, China on November 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 foreshock struck eastern Xizang Province, China on November 18 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck eastern Xizang Province, China on November 18 at a depth of 30.0 km. Some homes were wrecked.
  • A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck eastern Xizang Province, China on November 18 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on November 22 at a depth of 45.0 km.
  • As part of the ongoing series of events affecting Taiwan 17 deaths were recorded in the magnitude 7.3 event on November 24. 250 injuries were caused as well as some damage.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Minahassa Peninsula, Sulawesi, Indonesia on November 29 at a depth of 121.9 km.

    • December

  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Choco Department, Colombia on December 6 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Southwest Indian Ridge on December 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico on December 12 at a depth of 86.8 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China on December 21 at a depth of 27.5 km. Major destruction was caused in the area, including 29,890 homes that were destroyed.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Xizang Province, China on December 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Gansu Province, China on December 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on December 28 at a depth of 30.7 km.

    • Taiwan earthquake series table

  • From late October through to early December 1951 a series of destructive events struck Taiwan. These events will all be listed in the below table.

    • References

    List of earthquakes in 1951 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA