Girish Mahajan (Editor)

List of earthquakes in 1956

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Total fatalities
  
910

8.0−8.9
  
0

9.0+
  
0

List of earthquakes in 1956

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

Strongest magnitude
  
Dodecanese Islands, Greece (Magnitude 7.7) July 9

Deadliest
  
Hormozgan Province, Iran (Magnitude 6.4) October 31 347 deaths

This is a list of earthquakes in 1956. 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. Again a fairly active year. 11 magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes were recorded with the largest of those striking Greece in the summer. The event in Greece measured 7.7 and was one of the largest ever to affect the country. In all earthquakes in 1956 resulted in 910 fatalities. Iran had the deadliest event of the year with 347 deaths in October. Burma, Lebanon, Afghanistan Greece and India also suffered from deadly events.

Contents

By death toll

  • Note: At least 10 casualties

    • By magnitude

  • Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

    • January

  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on January 1 at a depth of 170.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on January 8 at a depth of 20.0 km. At least 101 people were hurt and major property damage was caused.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile on January 8 at a depth of 51.5 km. At least 1 person was killed and some damage was caused.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Fiji on January 9 at a depth of 610.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck south of Tonga on January 10 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand on January 11 at a depth of 180.0 km.
  • A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the eastern suburbs of Budapest, Hungary on January 12 at a depth of 15.0 km. 2 people died and major damage was reported. This was a rare large event for the area.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on January 14 at a depth of 46.5 km.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Manabi Province, Ecuador on January 16 at a depth of 20.0 km. Some damage was reported.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on January 18 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Chin State, Myanmar on January 21 at a depth of 60.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on January 23 at a depth of 75.1 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on January 28 at a depth of 50.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck just north of North Island, New Zealand on January 30 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on January 31 at a depth of 400.0 km.

    • February

  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Pagan, Northern Mariana Islands on February 1 at a depth of 370.1 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the west coast of Calabria, Italy on February 1 at a depth of 225.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Katavi Region, Tanzania on February 4 at an unknown depth.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Baja California, Mexico on February 9 at a depth of 6.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck Baja California, Mexico on February 9 at a depth of 6.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on February 10 at a depth of 38.5 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the northwest coast of Luzon, Philippines on February 12 at a depth of 20.7 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck off the northwest coast of Luzon, Philippines on February 13 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck off the northwest coast of Luzon, Philippines on February 14 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Baja California, Mexico on February 14 at a depth of 6.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Baja California, Mexico on February 15 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Izu Islands, Japan on February 18 at a depth of 484.1 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Haida Gwaii, Canada on February 19 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Eskişehir Province, Turkey on February 20 at a depth of 15.0 km. Four people were killed and some damage was reported.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Sagaing Province, Myanmar on February 29 at a depth of 52.7 km.

    • March

  • A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Waikato, North Island, New Zealand on March 2 at an unknown depth. Some structural damage was caused.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tonga on March 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck southern Xinjiang Province, China on March 5 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the north coast of Hokkaido, Japan on March 5 at a depth of 20.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the south coast of Panama on March 13 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Mount Lebanon Governorate, Lebanon on March 16 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was followed 11 minutes later by a magnitude 5.5 event in Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon at a depth of 15.0 km. Both of these events resulted in 148 deaths and major damage in the area.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on March 19 at a depth of 50.3 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Morona-Santiago Province, Ecuador on March 22 at a depth of 86.3 km.

    • April

  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northwest of Nias, Indonesia on April 2 at a depth of 29.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Singida Region, Tanzania on April 4 at an unknown depth.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on April 6 at a depth of 214.2 km.
  • A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on April 7 at a depth of 346.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southern Sumatra, Indonesia on April 10 at a depth of 129.8 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on April 18 at a depth of 45.0 km.
  • An earthquake struck the Province of Granada, Spain on April 19. The magnitude and depth were unknown. 7 deaths and major damage were reported.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on April 22 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Hokkaido, Japan on April 23 at a depth of 35.0 km.

    • May

  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the west coast of southern Sumatra, Indonesia on May 1 at a depth of 66.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Punjab, Pakistan on May 13 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck just south of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on May 19 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Tonga on May 22 at a depth of 45.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea on May 22 at a depth of 506.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Fiji on May 23 at a depth of 419.1 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Fiji on May 26 at a depth of 615.0 km.

    • June

  • A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Coquimbo Region, Chile on June 9 at a depth of 23.5 km.
  • A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Baghlan Province, Afghanistan on June 9 at a depth of 25.0 km. 100 people were killed.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on June 23 at a depth of 20.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on June 24 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on June 29 at a depth of 15.0 km.

    • July

  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on July 3 at a depth of 215.7 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on July 4 at a depth of 50.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Dodecanese Islands, Greece on July 9 at a depth of 20.0 km. 53 people were killed and major damage was caused in the area. A tsunami was reported which caused an additional 3 deaths.
  • A magnitude 6.7 aftershock struck the Dodecanese Islands, Greece on July 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Nord-Ouest (department), Haiti on July 9 at a depth of 55.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Magway Region, Myanmar on July 12 at a depth of 90.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Sagaing Region, Myanmar on July 16 at a depth of 34.3 km. 38 deaths were caused as well as some damage.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on July 17 at a depth of 450.8 km.
  • A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on July 18 at a depth of 136.8 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck just off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines on July 19 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Gujarat, India on July 21 at a depth of 15.0 km. 156 people were killed and major damage was reported.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Tarapaca Region, Chile on July 22 at a depth of 96.8 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck north of Crete, Greece on July 30 at a depth of 15.0 km.

    • August

  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea on August 4 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tonga on August 9 at a depth of 288.2 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck south of Honshu, Japan on August 12 at a depth of 20.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southern Sumatra, Indonesia on August 15 at a depth of 297.3 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Gulf of Tomini, Indonesia on August 15 at a depth of 170.0 km.
  • A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Shanxi Province, China on August 19 at an unknown depth. A few homes were destroyed.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck La Paz Department (Bolivia) on August 23 at a depth of 35.0 km.

    • September

  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Fiji on September 11 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Vanuatu on September 11 at an unknown depth.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Tarapaca Region, Chile on September 15 at a depth of 94.8 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Paktia Province, Afghanistan on September 16 at a depth of 10.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck under northern Lake Malawi on September 17 at an unknown depth.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Sagaing Region, Myanmar on September 19 at a depth of 114.9 km.
  • A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Chiba Prefecture, Honshu, Japan on September 29 at a depth of 66.1 km.

    • October

  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tarapaca Region, Chile on October 3 at a depth of 97.3 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on October 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Uttar Pradesh, India on October 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on October 11 at a depth of 100.4 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru on October 12 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the southeast coast of Hokkaido, Japan on October 12 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on October 13 at a depth of 100.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Rat Islands, Alaska on October 19 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Papua New Guinea on October 22 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck just north of Mindoro, Philippines on October 23 at a depth of 90.4 km.
  • A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the west coast of Nicaragua on October 24 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.2 aftershock struck Carazo Department, Nicaragua on October 25 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu on October 26 at a depth of 10.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck eastern Luzon, Philippines on October 28 at a depth of 20.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Hormozgan Province, Iran on October 31 at a depth of 15.0 km. 347 deaths were caused as well as major damage.

    • November

  • A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck eastern Thessaly, Greece on November 2 at a depth of 15.0 km. At least 51 people were killed.
  • A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Veracruz, Mexico on November 9 at a depth of 148.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of Costa Rica on November 10 at a depth of 70.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck central Luzon, Philippines on November 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Merida (state), Venezuela on November 16 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on November 21 at a depth of 41.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Vanuatu on November 25 at a depth of 15.0 km.

    • December

  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Fox Islands (Alaska) on December 3 at a depth of 13.6 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Chiapas, Mexico on December 4 at a depth of 89.4 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on December 8 at a depth of 25.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Vanuatu on December 15 at a depth of 151.3 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of Colombia on December 16 at a depth of 32.8 km.
  • A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Antofagasta Region, Chile on December 18 at a depth of 44.9 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Haida Gwaii, Canada on December 21 at a depth of 15.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Volcano Islands, Japan on December 23 at a depth of 90.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on December 26 at an unknown depth.
  • A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck south of Fiji on December 27 at a depth of 198.0 km.
  • A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Gisborne District, North Island, New Zealand on December 28 at a depth of 35.0 km.
  • A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Hebei Province, China on December 31 at an unknown depth. Some homes collapsed.

    • References

    List of earthquakes in 1956 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA