List of earthquakes in 1998
# List of earthquakes in 1998

This is a list of earthquakes in 1998. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale, and all data are sourced from the United States Geological Survey.

## By death toll

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date | Event |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 6.6 | 4,500 | Afghanistan, Hindu Kush | VII (Very strong) | 30.0 | May 30 | May 1998 Afghanistan earthquake |
| 2 | 7.0 | 2,700 | Papua New Guinea, Aitape offshore | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | July 17 | 1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake |
| 3 | 5.9 | 2,323 | Afghanistan, Hindu Kush | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | February 4 | February 1998 Afghanistan earthquake |
| 4 | 6.3 | 145 | Turkey, Adana | IX (Violent) | 33.0 | June 27 | 1998 Adana-Ceyhan earthquake |
| 5 | 6.6 | 105 | Bolivia, Cochabamba | VIII (Severe) | 24.0 | May 22 | 1998 Aiquile earthquake |
| 6 | 5.7 | 70 | China, Inner Mongolia | VIII (Severe) | 30.3 | January 10 | 1998 Zhangbei–Shanyi earthquake |
| 7 | 7.7 | 41 | Indonesia, North Maluku offshore | IX (Violent) | 33.0 | November 29 | 1998 North Maluku earthquake |
| 8 | 5.8 | 12 | Iran, Qayen | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | April 10 | - |
| 9 | 6.2 | 10 | Portugal, Azores Islands offshore | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | July 9 | 1998 Azores Islands earthquake |

At least 10 dead.

## By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 8.1 | 0 | Antarctica, Balleny Islands offshore | IV (Light) | 10.0 | March 25 |
| 2 | 7.7 | 41 | Indonesia, North Maluku offshore | IX (Violent) | 33.0 | November 29 |
| 3 | 7.5 | 0 | Japan, Ishigaki offshore | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | May 3 |
| 3 | 7.5 | 0 | New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands offshore | I (Not felt) | 100.6 | January 4 |
| 5 | 7.2 | 0 | Fiji, Levuka offshore | III (Weak) | 537.2 | March 29 |
| 5 | 7.2 | 3 | Ecuador, Bahía de Caráquez | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | August 4 |
| 7 | 7.1 | 1 | Chile, Antofagasta | VII (Very strong) | 42.0 | January 30 |
| 7 | 7.1 | 0 | Japan, Bonin Islands offshore | IV (Light) | 440.5 | August 20 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 2,700 | Papua New Guinea, Aitape offshore | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | July 17 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Solomon Islands, Lata offshore | VII (Very strong) | 110.2 | July 16 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Indonesia, Sumatra offshore | VI (Strong) | 55.7 | April 1 |
| 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Indonesia, Banda Sea offshore | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | November 9 |

## By month

### 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 | New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands offshore | 7.5 | 100.6 | I | - | - | - |
| 10 | China Inner Mongolia | 5.7 | 30.3 | VIII | During the 1998 Zhangbei–Shanyi earthquake, seventy people were killed, about 11,500 injured, 44,000 families left homeless, extensive damage and fires occurred in the Shangyi-Zhangbei area. Over 70,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. Damage to portions of the Great Wall of China in northwestern Hebei Province. | 70 | 11,500 |
| 10 | Peru, Madre De Dios | 6.4 | 33.0 | VII | - | - | - |
| 10 | Guatemala, Suchitepequez | 6.6 | 33.0 | VI | Landslides and power outages occurred as well as some buildings damaged in Quezaltenango and San Marcos Departments. Several houses collapsed in Solola Department. 27 people were injured, including 3 in El Salvador | - | 27 |
| 12 | Chile, Coquimbo | 6.6 | 34.8 | VII | - | - | - |
| 12 | Fiji Region offshore | 6.7 | 23.4 | VI | This is an example of a Doublet earthquake | - | - |
| 14 | Fiji Region offshore | 6.6 | 33.0 | I | This is an example of a Doublet earthquake | - | - |
| 27 | Fiji Islands offshore | 6.5 | 610.1 | I | - | - | - |
| 30 | Chile, Antofagasta | 7.1 | 42.0 | VII | One person died from a heart attack and a few poorly constructed buildings suffered minor damage in Antofagasta. | 1 | - |

### 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 |
| 3 | Mexico, Oaxaca | 6.4 | 33.0 | VII | Moderate damage was reported at San Agustin. | - | - |
| 4 | Afghanistan, Hindu Kush region | 5.9 | 30.0 | VII | The February 1998 Afghanistan earthquake caused severe damage despite its moderate magnitude. 2,323 people were killed, 818 people were injured, 6,725 livestock were killed and 8,094 houses destroyed. | 2,323 | 818 |
| 11 | Philippines, Leyte | 5.5 | 56.8 | IV | Six people were injured, a fishing pier was destroyed, at least 11 buildings were damaged, roads cracked and water pipes were damaged at Sogod. | - | 6 |
| 16 | Iceland, Reykjanes Ridge offshore | 6.8 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
| 19 | Indonesia, Maluku offshore | 6.5 | 33.0 | IV | - | - | - |
| 20 | Afghanistan, Hindu Kush region | 6.4 | 235.6 | IV | One person was killed and 11 people were injured in Pakistan. An earthquake-induced avalanche destroyed 35 houses, including a mosque, left 300 people homeless and killed several dozen livestock in Kashmir. | 1 | 11 |

### 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 |
| 3 | Guatemala region | 6.1 | 62.8 | V | Landslides blocked some highways and electrical cables were damaged in Nahuala. | - | - |
| 14 | Iran, Kerman | 6.6 | 9.0 | VIII | Five people were Killed, 50 injured, 10,000 homeless, 2,000 houses damaged or destroyed and 1,200 livestock killed in Golbaf. | 5 | 50 |
| 19 | China, Xinjiang | 5.6 | 33.0 | V | 400 homes were destroyed and some livestock were killed. | - | - |
| 20 | New Zealand, Auckland Islands offshore | 6.7 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
| 25 | Antarctica, Balleny Islands offshore | 8.1 | 10.0 | IV | The 1998 Balleny Islands earthquake is believed to be the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in this area to date, and the largest earthquake in 1998. A tsunami was observed with heights of 1 cm in southern Australia. | - | - |
| 25 | Australia region offshore | 6.4 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
| 26 | Italy, Assisi | 5.4 | 10.0 | VI | One person died from a heart attack and several buildings were damaged. | 1 | - |
| 29 | Fiji, Levuka offshore | 7.2 | 537.2 | III | - | - | - |

### 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 | Indonesia, Mentawai Islands Offshore | 7.0 | 55.7 | VI | - | - | - |
| 1 | Chile, Los Lagos offshore | 6.7 | 9.0 | V | - | - | - |
| 3 | Italy, Assisi | 5.2 | 10.0 | VII | Five people were slightly injured and 300 houses were damaged or destroyed in Gualdo. | - | 5 |
| 3 | Peru, Ucayali | 6.6 | 164.6 | V | - | - | - |
| 4 | Turkey, Afyon | 5.3 | 10.0 | VI | Some minor damage occurred in the Afyon area. | - | - |
| 10 | Iran, Qayen | 5.8 | 33.0 | VI | At least 12 people were killed, 10 were injured and more than 600 homes were severely damaged in the Birjand-Gonabad area. | 12 | 10 |
| 12 | Slovenia, Tolmin | 5.6 | 10.0 | VIII | One person died of a heart attack at Bovec. Landslides and damaged buildings left 700 people homeless. Some damage also occurred in Austria. | 1 | - |
| 13 | Turkey, Bingöl | 5.3 | 33.0 | VI | Eleven people were injured and several buildings damaged or destroyed at Karliova. | - | 11 |
| 20 | Mexico, Guerrero | 6.0 | 67.3 | V | - | - | - |

### 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 |
| 3 | Japan, Ryuku Islands offshore | 7.5 | 33.0 | V | A minor local tsunami was generated with recorded wave heights of 0.04 m on Ishigaki. | - | - |
| 13 | Papua New Guinea, New Britain | 6.6 | 61.4 | VI | Some minor damage was reported in the Kokopo area. | - | - |
| 16 | Fiji Islands offshore | 6.9 | 586.1 | I | - | - | - |
| 22 | Bolivia, Cochabamba | 6.6 | 24.0 | VIII | The 1998 Bolivia earthquake destroyed 70% of the town of Aiquile. 105 people were killed and 150 people were injured. | 105 | 150 |
| 28 | Egypt, Mediterranean Sea offshore | 5.5 | 10.0 | VI | One person was injured at Cairo. | - | 1 |
| 28 | China, Xinjiang | 5.6 | 33.0 | VI | 28 people were injured, more than 2,000 buildings were destroyed, an additional 3,000 were damaged and 5,000 head of cattle were killed in Xinjiang. | - | 28 |
| 30 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.6 | 30.0 | VII | The May 1998 Afghanistan earthquake destroyed at least 30 villages, affecting 7,000 families and killing 4,500 people with 10,001 people injured. | 4,500 | 10,001 |

### 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 |
| 1 | Russia, Kamchatka offshore | 6.4 | 43.7 | V | - | - | - |
| 7 | Mexico, Chiapas | 6.3 | 86.6 | VI | - | - | - |
| 18 | United Kingdom, Ascension Island region offshore | 6.3 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |
| 27 | Turkey, Adana | 6.3 | 33.0 | IX | The 1998 Adana–Ceyhan earthquake killed at least 145 people, left 1,500 people injured and many thousands homeless. | 145 | 1,500 |
| 29 | Australia, Macquarie Island offshore | 6.3 | 10.0 | I | - | - | - |

### 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 |
| 4 | Turkey, Adana | 5.4 | 33.0 | VI | An apartment building collapsed, injuring 1,000 people. | - | 1,000 |
| 9 | Portugal, Azores Islands offshore | 6.2 | 10.0 | VIII | Ten people were killed, 100 were injured and 1,000 were left homeless in the 1998 Azores Islands earthquake. | 10 | 100 |
| 9 | Azerbaijan region | 6.0 | 26.0 | VI | Extensive damage occurred in areas from Astara to Yardimli. | - | - |
| 9 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands offshore | 6.9 | 129.5 | I | - | - | - |
| 16 | Solomon Islands, Nendo offshore | 7.0 | 110.2 | VII | - | - | - |
| 17 | Taiwan, Nantou County | 5.7 | 12.6 | VI | Five people were killed and 27 were injured. Damage and landslides occurred in Chiayi County. | 5 | 27 |
| 17 | Papua New Guinea, Aitape offshore | 7.0 | 10.0 | VIII | The 1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake created a 15 meter (50 ft) high tsunami that left several villages completely destroyed and others severely damaged. While the earthquake itself did cause minor damage, the tsunami tragically claimed the lives of 2,700 people and injured thousands, making this the worst natural disaster in Papua New Guinea's history. | 2,700 | Thousands |
| 28 | China, Xinjiang | 5.2 | 33.0 | VI | Several people were injured and 19 houses collapsed in Baicheng County. | - | Several |
| 29 | Chile, Valparaiso | 6.4 | 51.1 | VI | Two people died from heart attacks in Santiago and four miners were injured at the Boton de Oro mine. | 2 | 4 |
| 29 | Indonesia, Papua | 6.7 | 33.0 | 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 |
| 2 | China, Xinjiang | 5.6 | 10.0 | V | Several homes were destroyed in Jiashi County, and two people were injured. | - | 2 |
| 4 | Iran, Khorasan Province | 5.3 | 33.0 | V | Some damage occurred in Khorasan Province. | - | - |
| 4 | Ecuador, Manabi | 7.2 | 33.0 | VIII | The 1998 Bahía de Caráquez earthquake damaged many buildings and disrupted communications. Three people were killed and 40 others were injured. | 3 | 40 |
| 12 | United States, California | 5.1 | 8.8 | VI | Two people were injured in Santa Cruz County. Some damage to a church at San Juan Bautista and minor cracking of highway 101 in San Benito County. | - | 2 |
| 15 | Italy, Lazio | 4.8 | 10.0 | VII | Some damage occurred at Antrodoco | - | - |
| 15 | Japan, Nagano Prefecture | 5.5 | 10.0 | V | Damage occurred from a landslide in Gifu Prefecture. | - | - |
| 20 | Japan, Bonin Islands offshore | 7.1 | 440.5 | IV | - | - | - |
| 20 | United States, Alaska, Aleutian Islands offshore | 6.3 | 33.0 | I | - | - | - |
| 23 | Nicaragua, Chinandega offshore | 6.7 | 54.6 | II | - | - |
| 27 | China, Xinjiang | 6.4 | 10.0 | VII | Three people were killed, seven were injured, more than 3,600 houses were destroyed, 18,771 damaged and 159 livestock were killed in Jiashi County. | 3 | 7 |
| 28 | Japan, Tokyo offshore | 5.4 | 75.9 | V | Two people were slightly injured in the Tokyo-Yokohama area. | - | 2 |

### 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 |
| 2 | Philippines, Mindanao offshore | 6.8 | 50.0 | V | Objects fell from shelves in General Santos. | - | - |
| 3 | Japan, Iwate | 5.9 | 38.1 | VIII | Eleven people were injured and landslides blocked two roads in the epicentral area. | - | 11 |
| 3 | Chile, Coquimbo offshore | 6.6 | 27.0 | VI | Two people were injured in La Serena. | - | 2 |
| 15 | Japan, Miyagi | 5.1 | 50.4 | IV | One person suffered minor injuries in Miyagi. | - | 1 |
| 21 | Vanuatu, Torba offshore | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
| 24 | Mongolia, Dundgovi | 5.6 | 33.0 | VII | Many houses were damaged in Mandalgovi. | - | - |
| 28 | Indonesia, Java | 6.6 | 151.6 | V | One person was killed, with 38 houses destroyed and 62 others damaged in Malang. | 1 | - |
| 29 | FR Yugoslavia | 5.5 | 10.0 | VIII | During the 1998 Mionica earthquake one person died from a heart attack, 17 people were injured, and many buildings were damaged. | 1 | 17 |
| 30 | Albania, Kukës | 5.3 | 10.0 | VI | 700 houses were damaged. | - | - |

### 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 | Iran, Ilam | 5.4 | 38.6 | IV | At least 100 houses were damaged in the Darreh Shahr area | - | - |
| 8 | Peru, Arequipa | 6.2 | 136.2 | IV | Minor damage occurred in Arequipa. | - | - |
| 10 | Indonesia, Sulawesi | 5.9 | 33.0 | VI | Many homes were damaged in Donggala. | - | - |
| 18 | Nicaragua, Masaya | 4.4 | 10.0 | IV | Three people were injured, two houses were destroyed and 45 severely damaged in Ticuantepe. | - | 3 |
| 26 | China, Yunnan | 4.7 | 10.0 | IV | 28 people were injured and 700 houses were damaged in Lijiang. | - | 28 |
| 28 | Indonesia, Sulawesi offshore | 6.6 | 10.0 | I | - | - |

### 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 |
| 8 | Indonesia, East Nusa Tenggara offshore | 6.4 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
| 9 | Indonesia, East Timor offshore | 6.7 | 33.0 | VI | - | - | - |
| 9 | Indonesia, East Timor offshore | 7.0 | 33.0 | VII | - | - | - |
| 13 | Iran, Fars | 5.4 | 33.0 | V | Five people were killed, 105 others were injured and at least 850 houses were damaged by the earthquake and landslides. | 5 | 105 |
| 18 | Iran, Kerman | 5.4 | 33.0 | V | Damage occurred in Kerman. | - | - |
| 19 | China, Yunnan | 5.6 | 33.0 | V | More than 28,000 houses were damaged in the earthquake, and five people were killed, with 1,543 others injured. | 5 | 1,543 |
| 29 | Indonesia, North Maluku offshore | 7.7 | 33.0 | IX | 41 people were killed and 171 people were injured in the 1998 North Maluku earthquake, with over 500 homes destroyed and over 700 others damaged. | 41 | 171 |

### 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 |
| 1 | China, Yunnan | 4.5 | 10.0 | V | 84 people were injured and 21,400 houses were damaged, along with 472 schools. | - | 84 |
| 6 | Indonesia, Sulawesi offshore | 6.6 | 33.0 | V | - | - | - |
| 11 | Afghanistan, Hindu Kush | 5.7 | 222.5 | III | Five people died and seven were injured in Kabul. | 5 | 7 |
| 27 | Tonga offshore | 6.8 | 144.3 | V | - | - | - |
