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Earthquakes in 1920 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1920
Strongest magnitude China Ningxia Province 16 December (Magnitude 8.3) Deadliest China Ningxia Province 16 December (Magnitude 8.3) 242,029 deaths Total fatalities 244,887 9.0+ 0 8.0–8.9 3 7.0–7.9 7 6.0–6.9 29 5.0–5.9 2
This is a list of earthquakes in 1920 . 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. With over 200,000 deaths being recorded in China , and substantial fatalities elsewhere, 1920 was one of the deadliest years of the 20th century for earthquakes.
Note : At least 10 casualties
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
8.3
242,029
China, Ningxia Province
XII (Extreme )
15.0
16 December
2
8.2
8
Taiwan , east of
VII (Very strong )
20.0
5 June
3
8.1
0
France, Loyalty Islands
( )
25.0
20 September
= 4
7.8
0
New Guinea , East New Britain Province
( )
35.0
2 February
5
7.3
0
Argentina, Neuquen Province
( )
15.0
10 December
= 6
7.1
0
Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk
( )
355.1
22 February
= 6
7.1
0
Russian SFSR, southern end of Urup , Kuril Islands
( )
35.0
18 October
= 7
7.0
0
southern East Pacific Rise
( )
10.0
20 March
= 7
7.0
0
New Guinea , off the north coast of
( )
25.0
13 May
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
Mexico Deadliest 7.8 Mw Mexico 648 deaths Total fatalities 648 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 1
February Strongest magnitude 7.8 Mw New Guinea Deadliest 6.2 Mw Georgia 101+ deaths Total fatalities 101+ 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 3
March Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw southern East Pacific Rise Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2
April Strongest magnitude 6.6 Mw Mexico Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 3
May Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw New Guinea Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 7
June Strongest magnitude 8.2 Mw Taiwan Deadliest 8.2 Mw Taiwan 8 deaths Total fatalities 8 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 1
July Strongest magnitude 6.0 Mw Canada Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
7 [ 27]
Canada, southern Yukon Territory
6.0
35.0
August Strongest magnitude 6.9 Mw 2 events Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 4
September Strongest magnitude 8.1 Mw France Deadliest 5.8 Mw Italy 1,400 deaths Total fatalities 1,400 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 1 5.0–5.9 1
October Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Russia Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2
November Strongest magnitude 6.2 Mw Albanian Kingdom Deadliest 6.2 Mw Albanian Kingdom 200 deaths Total fatalities 200 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
26 [ 40]
Albania , Gjirokaster County
6.2
25.0
XI
200 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed.
200
December Strongest magnitude 8.3 Mw China Deadliest 8.3 Mw China 242,029 deaths Total fatalities 242,530 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 3 5.0–5.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
10 [ 41]
Argentina, Neuquen Province
7.3
15.0
16 [ 42] [ 43]
China, Ningxia
8.3
15.0
XII
The 1920 Haiyuan earthquake was one of the deadliest events of the 20th century. Over 200,000 deaths were caused in the region. Based on a list of cities affected there was at least 242,029 people killed. Property damage was around $25 million (1920 rate). Parts of the regional terrain were affected with uplift or slumping.
242,029
17 [ 44]
Argentina, Mendoza Province
6.0
10.0
VIII
400 people were killed and many homes were destroyed in the 1920 Mendoza earthquake .
400
18 [ 45]
Albania, Vlore County
5.6
0.0
IX
At least 101 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed.
101+
19 [ 46]
Japan, off the east coast of Honshu
6.8
35.0
25 [ 47]
China, Ningxia
6.8
15.0
Aftershock.
^ "Significant Earthquake: MEXICO: VERACRUZ: COZAUTLAN, PUEBLA: PATLANALA" . National Geophysical Data Center . 3 January 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ ISC (27 June 2022), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009) , Version 9.1, International Seismological Centre
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . 30 January 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "M 7.8 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey . 2 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: NEW BRITAIN" . National Geophysical Data Center . 2 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 7 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.4 – Puerto Rico region" . United States Geological Survey . 10 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: GEORGIA: CAUCASUS: GORI, TIFLIS" . National Geophysical Data Center . 20 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 22 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.3 – off the west coast of northern Sumatra" . United States Geological Survey . 17 March 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 7.0 – southern East Pacific Rise" . United States Geological Survey . 20 March 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.4 – Vancouver Island, Canada region" . United States Geological Survey . 29 March 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.3 – eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey . 2 April 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.3 – Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey . 11 April 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 19 April 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 6 May 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.8 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey . 7 May 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.8 – Solomon Islands" . United States Geological Survey . 7 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . 10 May 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 12 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "M 7.0 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey . 13 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.8 – Santa Cruz Islands" . United States Geological Survey . 20 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . 27 May 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "M 8.2 – Taiwan" . United States Geological Survey . 5 June 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: TAIWAN" . National Geophysical Data Center . 5 June 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.8 – Banda Sea" . United States Geological Survey . 9 June 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . 7 July 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.9 – Catamarca, Argentina" . United States Geological Survey . 3 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . 13 August 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.7 – Santa Cruz Islands" . United States Geological Survey . 15 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.9 – Araucania, Chile" . United States Geological Survey . 20 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHILE: OFF COAST CENTRAL" . National Geophysical Data Center . 20 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ITALY: CARRARA,GARFAGNANA" . National Geophysical Data Center . 7 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 16 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "M 8.1 – Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia" . United States Geological Survey . 20 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "Tsunami Event: VANUATU ISLANDS" . National Geophysical Data Center . 20 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.7 – Xinjiang-Xizang border region" . United States Geological Survey . 12 October 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 18 October 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.4 – Taiwan region" . United States Geological Survey . 20 October 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ALBANIA: TEPELENE, DRAGOTI, PESHTANI, MARICAJ" . United States Geological Survey . 26 November 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "M 7.3 – Neuquen, Argentina" . United States Geological Survey . 10 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "M 8.3 – Gansu-Ningxia border region, China" . United States Geological Survey . 16 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE, SHANXI PROVINCE" . United States Geological Survey . 16 December 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ARGENTINA: MENDOZA" . United States Geological Survey . 17 December 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ALBANIA: ELBASAN, PEQIN" . United States Geological Survey . 18 December 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey . 19 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
^ "M 6.8 – Nei Mongol-Ningxia border region, China" . United States Geological Survey . 25 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015 .
Earthquakes in the 1920s
1920 1921 1923 1925 1927 1928 1929 † indicates earthquake resulting in at least 30 deaths ‡ indicates the deadliest earthquake of the year