List of earthquakes in 1968
# List of earthquakes in 1968

This is a list of earthquakes in 1968. 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. There was a large resurgence in activity in 1968. 22 magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes struck various parts of the planet. The largest of these was a magnitude 8.2 event in Japan in May. Large aftershocks struck the area following the mainshock. New Zealand and Indonesia had some upheaval during the year. The high activity contributed to over 12,000 deaths across the world. The vast majority of this total was caused by a destructive event in Iran in August with nearly 10,500 deaths. Events in the Philippines, Italy and Indonesia also had significant fatalities.

## Overall

### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 10,488 | 7.1 | Iran, South Khorasan Province | IX (Violent) | 10.0 | August 31 |
| 2 | 700 | 6.2 | Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | September 1 |
| 3 | 270 | 7.6 | Philippines, Luzon | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | August 1 |
| 4 | 216 | 6.4 | Italy, Sicily | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | January 15 |
| 5 | 200 | 7.2 | Indonesia, Minahassa Peninsula | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | August 14 |
| 6 | 52 | 8.2 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | VIII (Severe) | 29.9 | May 16 |
| 7 | 38 | 5.3 | Iran, West Azerbaijan Province | VII (Very strong) | 34.0 | April 29 |
| 8 | 24 | 6.3 | Turkey, offshore Bartin Province | VII (Very strong) | 20.0 | September 3 |
| = 9 | 20 | 7.2 | Greece, Aegean Sea | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | February 19 |
| = 9 | 20 | 6.0 | Mexico, Chiapas | IV (Light) | 124.8 | September 25 |
| 10 | 18 | 7.3 | Mexico, Oaxaca | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | August 2 |
| 11 | 15 | 6.8 | Peru, Loreto Region | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | June 19 |

* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8.2 | 52 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | VIII (Severe) | 29.9 | May 16 |
| 2 | 7.9 | 0 | Japan, off the northeast coast of Honshu | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | May 16 |
| = 3 | 7.6 | 270 | Philippines, Luzon | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | August 1 |
| = 3 | 7.6 | 0 | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | IX (Violent) | 23.0 | August 10 |
| = 4 | 7.5 | 1 | Japan, off the east coast of Kyushu | VIII (Severe) | 34.2 | April 1 |
| = 4 | 7.5 | 0 | Indonesia, Papua (province) | VIII (Severe) | 45.0 | May 28 |
| 5 | 7.4 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | VII (Very strong) | 36.9 | January 29 |
| = 6 | 7.3 | 0 | Australia, southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua and New Guinea | VIII (Severe) | 30.0 | February 12 |
| = 6 | 7.3 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | VI (Strong) | 45.0 | July 25 |
| = 6 | 7.3 | 18 | Mexico, Oaxaca | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | August 2 |
| = 6 | 7.3 | 0 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | ( ) | 543.1 | August 18 |
| = 6 | 7.3 | 0 | Japan, Bonin Islands | ( ) | 500.0 | October 7 |
| = 7 | 7.2 | 20 | Greece, Aegean Sea | X (Extreme) | 15.0 | February 19 |
| = 7 | 7.2 | 3 | New Zealand, South Island | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | May 24 |
| = 7 | 7.2 | 200 | Indonesia, Minahassa Peninsula | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | August 14 |
| = 8 | 7.1 | 0 | Taiwan, off the east coast of | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | February 26 |
| = 8 | 7.1 | 10,488 | Iran, South Khorasan Province | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | August 31 |
| = 8 | 7.1 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | ( ) | 50.0 | September 26 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | ( ) | 55.0 | May 20 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | ( ) | 28.3 | May 20 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | VI (Strong) | 32.1 | June 12 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Australia, off the north coast of mainland Papua and New Guinea | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | October 23 |

* 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 |
| 4 | Nicaragua, Managua | 4.6 | 5.0 | | Despite being a moderate magnitude there was some property damage. Costs were $2 million (1968 rate). | | |
| 6 | Chile, Atacama Region | 6.4 | 30.0 | VI | | | |
| 13 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 6.1 | 35.0 | IV | | | |
| 15 | Italy, Sicily | 6.4 | 10.0 | X | 216 people were killed and 563 were injured in the 1968 Belice earthquake. Extensive destruction was caused in the area with costs reported at $320 million (1968 rate). | 216 | 563 |
| 19 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 6.7 | 27.5 | V | | | |
| 25 | Italy, Sicily | 5.1 | 33.0 | | 8 people were killed and 55 more were injured. Some damage was reported. Aftershock. | 8 | 55 |
| 26 | Indonesia, Flores | 6.8 | 30.6 | VI | | | |
| 29 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.4 | 36.9 | VII | | | |
| 29 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 33.0 | | Aftershock. | | |

### 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 |
| 4 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.6 | 23.5 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 12 | Australia, southeast of New Ireland (island), Papua and New Guinea | 7.3 | 30.0 | VIII | Some damage was reported. | | |
| 19 | Greece, Aegean Sea | 7.2 | 15.0 | X | The 1968 Aegean Sea earthquake killed 20 people and injured 18 more. 500 homes were destroyed and 1,951 were damaged. Costs were $600,000 (1968 rate). | 20 | 18 |
| 21 | Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu | 6.2 | 10.0 | VII | During the 1968 Ebino earthquake, 3 people were killed and some damage was reported. | 3 | |
| 25 | Algeria, Bordj Bou Arreridj Province | 4.9 | 0.0 | VIII | 1 person was killed and 4 were hurt. 100 homes collapsed. | 1 | 4 |
| 26 | Taiwan, off the east coast of | 7.1 | 25.0 | VII | | | |

### 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 |
| 5 | Philippines, off the east coast of Mindanao | 6.3 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 5 | Philippines, off the east coast of Mindanao | 6.1 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 7 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.3 | 45.0 | V | | | |
| 11 | Tonga | 6.4 | 109.1 | | | | |
| 20 | Kenya, Homa Bay County | 4.6 | 33.0 | | 1 person was killed and another was injured. Some property damage was caused. | 1 | 1 |

### 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 | Japan, off the east coast of Kyushu | 7.5 | 34.2 | VIII | 1 person was killed and 22 were injured in the 1968 Hyuga-nada earthquake. Some homes were destroyed in both the earthquake and a subsequent tsunami. | 1 | 22 |
| 1 | Japan, off the east coast of Kyushu | 6.8 | 30.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 9 | United States, southern California | 6.6 | 10.0 | IX | Some damage was caused by the 1968 Borrego Mountain earthquake. | | |
| 26 | Western Samoa | 6.2 | 30.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Mexico, Michoacan | 6.1 | 30.0 | VI | | | |
| 29 | Iran, West Azerbaijan Province | 5.3 | 34.0 | VII | 38 people were killed and 100 were injured. 1,000 homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $1 million (1968 rate). | 38 | 100 |

### 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 |
| 14 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.7 | 160.1 | V | | | |
| 16 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 8.2 | 29.9 | VIII | 52 people were killed and 330 were injured in the 1968 Tokachi earthquake. A tsunami was generated which contributed to the destruction. 1,218 homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $131 million (1968 rate). A large number of aftershocks followed. To prevent cluttering only those measuring above magnitude 6.5 will be listed. | 52 | 330 |
| 16 | Japan, off the northeast coast of Honshu | 7.9 | 25.0 | VII | Aftershock. | | |
| 16 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 25.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 16 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 43.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 19 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 20.0 | | South of the aftershock sequence from May 16 event. | | |
| 20 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 7.0 | 55.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | | |
| 20 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.9 | 50.0 | | | | |
| 20 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.0 | 28.3 | | | | |
| 23 | New Zealand, South Island | 7.2 | 20.0 | IX | The 1968 Inangahua earthquake caused 3 deaths and $3 million (1968 rate) worth of damage. | 3 | |
| 24 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.6 | 27.6 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 28 | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 7.5 | 45.0 | VIII | | | |

### 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 |
| 7 | Indonesia, Central Sulawesi | 6.7 | 35.0 | VII | | | |
| 7 | Indonesia, South Sulawesi | 6.2 | 38.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 12 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.0 | 32.1 | VI | Aftershock of May 16 event. | | |
| 19 | Peru, Loreto Region | 6.8 | 15.0 | VII | 15 people were killed and some property damage was caused. Costs were $100,000 (1968 rate). | 15 | |

### 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 | Japan, Saitama Prefecture, Honshu | 6.1 | 60.6 | VI | | | |
| 2 | Mexico, Guerrero | 6.4 | 57.9 | VI | | | |
| 2 | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 6.0 | 45.0 | V | | | |
| 5 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 47.0 | IV | | | |
| 25 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 7.3 | 45.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 29 | Indonesia, West Papua (province) | 6.2 | 20.0 | V | | | |
| 30 | Peru, off the north coast of | 6.5 | 31.8 | VI | | | |

### 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 | Philippines, Luzon | 7.6 | 25.0 | IX | The 1968 Casiguran earthquake caused 270 deaths and 261 injuries. Some homes were destroyed and many were damaged. Costs were around $8 million (1968 rate). A tsunami was generated which left 1 person dead. | 270 | 261 |
| 2 | Mexico, Oaxaca | 7.3 | 25.0 | VIII | 18 people were killed. Property damage was $2.4 million (1968 rate). | 18 | |
| 3 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.7 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 3 | Philippines, Luzon | 6.4 | 25.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 4 | Philippines, off the east coast of Mindanao | 6.1 | 100.0 | IV | | | |
| 5 | Japan, off the west coast of Shikoku | 6.8 | 45.7 | VII | | | |
| 10 | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 7.6 | 23.0 | IX | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 10 | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 6.5 | 25.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 14 | Mexico, offshore Michoacan | 6.0 | 20.0 | VI | | | |
| 14 | Indonesia, Minahassa Peninsula | 7.2 | 20.0 | IX | 200 people were killed and 58 were injured in a tsunami triggered by the 1968 Sulawesi earthquake. 800 homes were destroyed. | 200 | 58 |
| 18 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 7.3 | 543.1 | III | | | |
| 21 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.5 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 23 | Bolivia, Tarija Department | 6.3 | 533.6 | | | | |
| 28 | Philippines, off the east coast of Luzon | 6.4 | 20.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 31 | Iran, South Khorasan Province | 7.1 | 10.0 | X | The 1968 Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquakes caused major destruction in northeast Iran. 10,488 people were killed and over 17,000 were injured. 12,000 homes were destroyed. $35 million (1968 rate) of costs were reported. | 10,488 | 17,000 |

### 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 |
| 1 | Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | This was a strong aftershock of the 1968 Dasht-e Bayaz and Ferdows earthquakes. 700 additional deaths were caused and 1,500 homes were destroyed. | 700 | |
| 3 | Turkey, offshore Bartin Province | 6.3 | 20.0 | VIII | 24 people were killed and 200 were injured. 2,000 homes damaged or destroyed. | 24 | 200 |
| 8 | Australia, East Sepik Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.3 | 30.0 | VI | | | |
| 9 | Peru, Ucayali Region | 6.1 | 142.3 | IV | | | |
| 14 | Iran, Fars Province | 6.2 | 25.0 | VII | | | |
| 16 | Australia, off the south coast of New Britain, Papua and New Guinea | 6.8 | 35.0 | VII | | | |
| 16 | Australia, off the south coast of New Britain, Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 65.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 20 | Venezuela, Sucre, Venezuela | 6.5 | 103.4 | IX | 3 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 3 | |
| 21 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | 6.7 | 58.3 | VI | | | |
| 25 | New Zealand, off the south coast of South Island | 6.2 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 25 | Mexico, Chiapas | 6.0 | 124.8 | IV | 20 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 20 | |
| 26 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 7.1 | 50.0 | | | | |
| 27 | Australia, East Sepik Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.4 | 15.0 | VIII | | | |
| 28 | Peru, Lima Region | 6.1 | 65.0 | V | | | |

### 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 |
| 7 | Japan, Bonin Islands | 7.3 | 500.0 | | | | |
| 7 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 10 | Australia, off the south coast of New Britain, Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 48.9 | V | | | |
| 14 | Australia, Western Australia | 6.5 | 15.0 | IX | The 1968 Meckering earthquake caused property damage with costs reaching $2.2 million (1968 rate). | | |
| 20 | Taiwan, off the east coast of | 6.2 | 22.5 | V | | | |
| 23 | Australia, off the coast of East Sepik Province, Papua and New Guinea | 7.0 | 15.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 24 | Philippines, southeast of Mindanao | 6.3 | 45.0 | | | | |
| 29 | United States, northern Alaska | 6.7 | 10.0 | VIII | | | |

### 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 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.5 | 597.0 | | | | |
| 17 | Venezuela, Zulia | 6.1 | 175.7 | | | | |
| 22 | Philippines, Luzon | 6.1 | 35.0 | V | | | |

### 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 |
| 5 | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | 6.1 | 20.0 | VI | | | |
| 5 | Iceland, Southern Peninsula (Iceland) | 6.0 | 10.0 | VIII | | | |
| 7 | Australia, Bismarck Sea, Papua and New Guinea | 6.6 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 17 | United States, southern Alaska | 6.3 | 109.6 | V | | | |
| 19 | Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka, Russia | 6.0 | 44.1 | V | | | |
