List of earthquakes in 1973
# List of earthquakes in 1973

This is a list of earthquakes in 1973. 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. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap data. Both the number of large events and the death toll were substantially lower in 1973. There was 9 magnitude 7.0+ events. The largest of these was in Japan measuring 7.7. Russia and New Hebrides were active during the year with each country having 2 magnitude 7.0+ events. Nearly 3,000 deaths were reported with China being worst affected. Mexico also had a significant death toll.

## Overall

### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 2,199 | 7.4 | China, Sichuan Province | X (Extreme) | 33.0 | February 6 |
| 2 | 600 | 6.8 | Mexico, Oaxaca | VIII (Severe) | 84.0 | August 28 |
| 3 | 56 | 7.5 | Mexico, Michoacan | X (Extreme) | 43.0 | January 30 |
| 4 | 26 | 6.5 | Costa Rica, Alajuela Province | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | April 14 |
| 5 | 15 | 7.0 | Philippines, Luzon | IX (Violent) | 33.0 | March 17 |

* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 7.7 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido | VIII (Severe) | 48.0 | June 17 |
| 2 | 7.5 | 56 | Mexico, Michoacán | X (Extreme) | 43.0 | January 30 |
| 2 | 7.5 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | VIII (Severe) | 26.0 | December 28 |
| 3 | 7.4 | 2,199 | China, Sichuan Province | X (Extreme) | 33.0 | February 6 |
| 4 | 7.2 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | VIII (Severe) | 27.0 | February 28 |
| 4 | 7.2 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | VIII (Severe) | 47.0 | December 29 |
| 5 | 7.1 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | VIII (Severe) | 50.0 | June 24 |
| 6 | 7.0 | 15 | Philippines, Luzon | IX (Violent) | 33.0 | March 17 |
| 6 | 7.0 | 0 | United Kingdom, east of the South Sandwich Islands | ( ) | 33.0 | October 6 |

* Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

## Notable events

### January

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 5 | New Zealand, Manawatū-Whanganui, North Island | 6.2 | 150.0 | IV | | | |
| 6 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.1 | 36.0 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Australia, south of New Britain, Papua New Guinea | 6.8 | 43.0 | VI | | | |
| 22 | Mexico, off the coast of Jalisco | 6.1 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 30 | Mexico, Michoacán | 7.5 | 43.0 | X | 56 people were killed and 390 were injured in the 1973 Colima earthquake. Some homes were destroyed. | 56 | 390 |

### February

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 1 | Argentina, Jujuy Province | 6.1 | 229.0 | | | | |
| 6 | China, Sichuan Province | 7.4 | 33.0 | X | Deadliest event of 1973. 2,199 people were killed and 2,743 were injured in the 1973 Luhuo earthquake. 168 homes were destroyed. | 2,199 | 2,743 |
| 21 | New Zealand, Hawke's Bay Region, North Island | 5.1 | 38.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 21 | United States, southern California | 5.3 | 10.0 | VII | The 1973 Point Mugu earthquake caused $1 million (1973 rate) in property damage. | | |
| 24 | Iran, Fars Province | 5.2 | 27.0 | | Major damage was caused. | | |
| 24 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 59.0 | | | | |
| 28 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.2 | 27.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | | |

### March

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 4 | Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka, Russia | 6.1 | 32.0 | | | | |
| 9 | Australia, New South Wales | 5.5 | 13.0 | VII | Property damage was caused with costs reaching $500,000 (1973 rate). | | |
| 12 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 54.0 | V | Aftershock of February 28 event. | | |
| 17 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 194.0 | | | | |
| 17 | Philippines, Luzon | 7.0 | 33.0 | VII | The 1973 Ragay Gulf earthquake killed 15 people and 64 others were injured. Damage costs were around $450,000 (1973 rate). | 15 | 64 |
| 18 | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 6.5 | 33.0 | | | | |

### April

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 1 | France, Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti | 5.9 | 31.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 3 | Colombia, Quindío Department | 6.2 | 158.0 | IV | | | |
| 7 | India, Nicobar Islands | 6.6 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 8 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 12 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 52.0 | | Aftershock of February 28 event. | | |
| 14 | Costa Rica, Alajuela Province | 6.5 | 33.0 | VI | 26 people were killed and 100 were injured. Damage costs were $200,000 (1973 rate). | 26 | 100 |
| 17 | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 24 | Colombia, off the west coast of | 6.5 | 50.0 | IV | 1 person died and some damage was reported. | 1 | |
| 26 | United States, Hawaii (island) | 6.2 | 36.9 | VIII | 11 people were injured and some property damage was reported. Costs were $5.75 million (1973 rate). | | 11 |

### May

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 29 | United States, Unimak Island, Alaska | 6.0 | 30.0 | V | Although in a remote location this was the only magnitude 6.0+ event of the month. | | |

### June

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 5 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.1 | 24.0 | IV | | | |
| 9 | United Kingdom, Makira, Solomon Islands | 6.3 | 70.0 | V | | | |
| 17 | Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido | 7.7 | 48.0 | VIII | Largest event of 1973. 27 people were injured in the 1973 Nemuro earthquake. 2 homes were destroyed. Overall damage costs were $5 million (1973 rate). | | 27 |
| 17 | Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido | 6.0 | 50.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 24 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.1 | 50.0 | VIII | 1 person was injured and some damage was reported. Aftershock of June 17 event. | | 1 |
| 26 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.6 | 50.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |

### July

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 1 | United States, off the southeast coast of Alaska | 6.7 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 3 | Philippines, Samar | 6.0 | 44.0 | V | Foreshock. | | |
| 3 | Philippines, Samar | 6.5 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 5 | Philippines, north of Samar | 6.0 | 38.0 | IV | Aftershock. | | |
| 14 | China, Xizang Province | 6.9 | 33.0 | VII | | | |
| 31 | Chile, off the coast of Atacama Region | 6.3 | 33.0 | V | | | |
| 31 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 6.0 | 30.0 | VII | | | |

### August

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 1 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.1 | 200.0 | IV | | | |
| 5 | Tonga | 6.1 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 7 | Chile, off the coast of Atacama Region | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | Foreshock. | | |
| 7 | Chile, off the coast of Atacama Region | 6.3 | 14.0 | VII | | | |
| 9 | Soviet Union, southern Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.0 | 55.0 | V | | | |
| 11 | China, Sichuan Province | 6.1 | 33.0 | VII | | | |
| 13 | Australia, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea | 6.0 | 112.0 | IV | | | |
| 16 | China, Yunnan Province | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Philippines, west of Panay | 6.1 | 14.0 | VI | | | |
| 28 | Mexico, Oaxaca | 6.8 | 84.0 | VIII | The 1973 Veracruz earthquake caused 600 deaths as well as major damage. | 600 | |

### September

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 10 | Soviet Union, off the coast of Primorsky Krai, Russia | 6.0 | 532.0 | II | | | |
| 20 | Philippines, Bohol Sea | 6.0 | 560.0 | I | | | |
| 29 | North Korea, off the east coast of | 6.5 | 575.0 | II | | | |

### October

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 5 | Chile, off the coast of Valparaíso Region | 6.5 | 14.0 | VI | Foreshock. | | |
| 5 | Chile, off the coast of Valparaíso Region | 6.7 | 33.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 6 | United Kingdom, east of the South Sandwich Islands | 7.0 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 9 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Mexico, Jalisco | 6.0 | 45.0 | V | | | |
| 25 | Bolivia, Tarija Department | 6.1 | 529.0 | | | | |

### November

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 4 | Greece, off the west coast | 5.8 | 8.0 | VIII | Some damage was reported. | | |
| 6 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.4 | 34.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | | |
| 6 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.3 | 41.0 | IV | | | |
| 8 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 33.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | | |
| 11 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.0 | 51.0 | | | | |
| 11 | Iran, Fars Province | 5.5 | 11.0 | VII | 1 person was killed and major damage was reported. | 1 | |
| 19 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.1 | 56.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | Portugal, Azores Islands | 5.1 | 5.0 | VIII | 1 person died and some damage was caused. | 1 | |
| 29 | Greece, south of Crete | 5.7 | 26.0 | VIII | Some damage was reported. | | |
| 30 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 124.0 | IV | | | |

### December

| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Date | Country and location | $M_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 9 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.8 | 39.0 | VII | | | |
| 9 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.3 | 34.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 19 | Indonesia, Sumba | 6.0 | 58.0 | V | | | |
| 28 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.5 | 26.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 29 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.2 | 47.0 | VIII | Aftershock. Some damage was caused. | | |
| 30 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.6 | 10.0 | VIII | Aftershock. | | |
