List of earthquakes in 1920

Earthquakes in 1920

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1920 5.0−5.9 magnitude 6.0−6.9 magnitude 7.0−7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	Ningxia Province, China December 16 (Magnitude 8.3)
Deadliest	Ningxia Province, China December 16 (Magnitude 8.3) 200,000 deaths
Total fatalities	203,255
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
8.0−8.9	3
7.0−7.9	7
6.0−6.9	29
5.0−5.9	2
← 1919 1921 →

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.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	200,000	8.3	Ningxia Province, China	15.0	December 16
2	1,400	5.8	Emilia-Romagna, Italy	10.0	September 7
3	648	7.8	Veracruz, Mexico	0.0	January 3
4	600	6.0	Gjirokaster County, Albania	25.0	November 26
5	400	6.0	Mendoza Province, Argentina	10.0	December 17
6	101	6.2	Shida Kartli, Georgia	11.0	February 20
6	101	5.6	Vlore County, Albania	0.0	December 18

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	8.3	200,000	Ningxia Province, China	15.0	December 16
2	8.2	5	east of Taiwan	20.0	June 5
3	8.1	0	Loyalty Islands	25.0	September 20
4	7.8	648	Veracruz, Mexico	0.0	January 3
4	7.8	0	East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea	35.0	February 2
5	7.3	0	Neuquen Province, Argentina	15.0	December 10
6	7.1	0	Sea of Okhotsk, Russia	355.1	February 22
6	7.1	0	southern end of Urup Kuril Islands, Russia	35.0	October 18
7	7.0	0	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0	March 20
7	7.0	0	off the north coast of Papua New Guinea	25.0	May 13

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January–March

• A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Veracruz, Mexico on January 3 at an unknown depth. 648 deaths were reported, another 167 people were hurt and damage was caused.^[1]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Cauca Department, Colombia on January 30 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[2]
• A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on February 2 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[3] Some damage was caused in the area.^[4]
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on February 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[5]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck in the Mona Passage on the side nearer Puerto Rico on February 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[6]
• A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Shida Kartli, Georgia on February 20 at a depth of 11.0 km. At least 101 people were killed and many homes were damaged.^[7]
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia on February 22 at a depth of 355.1 km.^[8]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia on March 17 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[9]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the southern East Pacific Rise on March 20 at a depth of 10.0 km.^[10]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck western British Columbia, Canada on March 29 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[11]

April–June

• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Oro Province, Papua New Guinea on April 2 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[12]
• A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on April 11 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[13]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico on April 19 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[14]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Primorsky Krai, Russia on May 6 at a depth of 500.0 km.^[15]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck east of Mindanao, Philippines on May 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[16]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck south of the Solomon Islands on May 7 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[17]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on May 10 at a depth of 370.0 km.^[18]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the south coast of Honshu, Japan on May 12 at a depth of 150.0 km.^[19]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua New Guinea on May 13 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[20]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on May 20 at a depth of 80.0 km.^[21]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Java Sea, Indonesia on May 27 at a depth of 600.0 km.^[22]
• A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck east of Taiwan on June 5 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[23] Five people were killed, a further 20 injured and 273 homes were destroyed. This was one of the largest earthquakes to ever strike Taiwan.^[24]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on June 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[25]

July–September

• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southwestern Yukon Territory, Canada on July 7 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[26]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Catamarca Province, Argentina on August 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[27]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Potosi Department, Bolivia on August 13 at a depth of 150.0 km.^[28]
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on August 15 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[29]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Araucania Region, Chile on August 20 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[30] Some homes were damaged or destroyed by the quake.^[31]
• A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Emilia-Romagna, Italy on September 7 at a depth of 10.0 km. Conflicting figures about the death toll were evident with some sources saying that as many as 1,400 died whereas other reports suggested 171 deaths.^[32]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck southeast of Hokkaido, Japan on September 16 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[33]
• A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck the Loyalty Islands on September 20 at a depth of 25.0 km.^[34] A tsunami was generated which caused minor damage.^[35]

October–December

• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the border of Xizang Province and Xinjiang Province, China on October 12 at a depth of 20.0 km.^[36]
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the southern end of Urup, Kuril Islands, Russia on October 18 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[37]
• A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck east of Taiwan on October 20 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[38]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Gjirokaster County, Albania on November 26 at a depth of 25.0 km. Six-hundred deaths were reported in the area.^[39]
• A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Neuquen Province, Argentina on December 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[40]
• A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Ningxia Province, China on December 16 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[41] Over 200,000 deaths were caused in numerous cities in the region. Landscape changes were observed with parts rising or slumping. Property damage was around $25 million (1920 rate).^[42]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Mendoza Province, Argentina on December 17 at a depth of 10.0 km. Four-hundred lives were lost and many homes were destroyed.^[43]
• A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Vlore County, Albania on December 18 at an unknown depth. At least 101 people were killed and many homes were destroyed. A tsunami was reported.^[44] This was the second deadly earthquake in Albania within 3 weeks. Another point to note is that this was the 3rd consecutive day with a deadly earthquake somewhere in the world.
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on December 19 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[45]
• A magnitude 6.8 aftershock struck Ningxia Province, China on December 25 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[46]

References

1. "Significant Earthquake MEXICO: VERACRUZ: COZAUTLAN, PUEBLA: PATLANALA". National Geophysical Data Center. January 3, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
2. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. January 30, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
3. "M7.8 - New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. February 2, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
4. "Significant Earthquake PAPUA NEW GUINEA: NEW BRITAIN". National Geophysical Data Center. February 2, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
5. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. February 7, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
6. "M6.4 - Puerto Rico region". United States Geological Survey. February 10, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
7. "Significant Earthquake GEORGIA: CAUCASUS: GORI, TIFLIS". National Geophysical Data Center. February 20, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
8. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. February 22, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
9. "M6.3 - off the west coast of northern Sumatra". United States Geological Survey. March 17, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
10. "M7.0 - southern East Pacific Rise". United States Geological Survey. March 20, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
11. "M6.4 - Vancouver Island, Canada region". United States Geological Survey. March 29, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
12. "M6.3 - eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. April 2, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
13. "M6.3 - Kuril Islands". United States Geological Survey. April 11, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
14. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 19, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
15. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 6, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
16. "M6.8 - Mindanao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. May 7, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
17. "M6.8 - Solomon Islands". United States Geological Survey. May 7, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
18. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. May 10, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
19. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 12, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
20. "M7.0 - near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. May 13, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
21. "M6.8 - Santa Cruz Islands". United States Geological Survey. May 20, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
22. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. May 27, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
23. "M8.2 - Taiwan". United States Geological Survey. June 5, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
24. "Significant Earthquake TAIWAN". National Geophysical Data Center. June 5, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
25. "M6.8 - Banda Sea". United States Geological Survey. June 9, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
26. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. July 7, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
27. "M6.9 - Catamarca, Argentina". United States Geological Survey. August 3, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
28. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. August 13, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
29. "M6.7 - Santa Cruz Islands". United States Geological Survey. August 15, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
30. "M6.9 - Araucania, Chile". United States Geological Survey. August 20, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
31. "Significant Earthquake CHILE: OFF COAST CENTRAL". National Geophysical Data Center. August 20, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
32. "Significant Earthquake ITALY: CARRARA,GARFAGNANA". National Geophysical Data Center. September 7, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
33. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. September 16, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
34. "M8.1 - Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia". United States Geological Survey. September 20, 1920. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
35. "Tsunami Event VANUATU ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. September 20, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
36. "M6.7 - Xinjiang-Xizang border region". United States Geological Survey. October 12, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
37. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 18, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
38. "M6.4 - Taiwan region". United States Geological Survey. October 20, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
39. "Significant Earthquake ALBANIA: TEPELENE, DRAGOTI, PESHTANI, MARICAJ". National Geophysical Data Center. November 26, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
40. "M7.3 - Neuquen, Argentina". United States Geological Survey. December 10, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
41. "M8.3 - Gansu-Ningxia border region, China". United States Geological Survey. December 16, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
42. "Significant Earthquake CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE, SHANXI PROVINCE". National Geophysical Data Center. December 16, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
43. "Significant Earthquake ARGENTINA: MENDOZA". National Geophysical Data Center. December 17, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
44. "Significant Earthquake ALBANIA: ELBASAN, PEQIN". National Geophysical Data Center. December 18, 1920. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
45. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. December 19, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
46. "M6.8 - Nei Mongol-Ningxia border region, China". United States Geological Survey. December 25, 1920. Retrieved December 19, 2015.