List of earthquakes in 1920

Earthquakes in 1920

class=notpageimage| Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1920 4.0–5.9 magnitude 6.0–6.9 magnitude 7.0–7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
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
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	MMI	Depth (km)	Date
1	242,029	8.3	China, Ningxia Province	XII (Extreme)	15.0	16 December
2	1,400	5.8	Italy, Emilia-Romagna	X (Extreme)	10.0	7 September
3	648	6.3	Mexico, Veracruz	X (Extreme)	0.0	3 January
4	400	6.0	Argentina, Mendoza Province	VIII (Severe)	10.0	17 December
5	200	6.2	Albania, Gjirokaster County	XI (Extreme)	25.0	26 November
= 6	101	6.2	Georgia, Shida Kartli	( )	11.0	20 February
= 6	101	5.6	Albania, Vlore County	IX (Violent)	0.0	18 December

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

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

Notable events

January

January

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw   Mexico
Deadliest	7.8 Mw   Mexico 648 deaths
Total fatalities	648
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3 [1]	Mexico, Veracruz	6.3 [2]	15.0	X	The 1920 Xalapa earthquake left 648 people were killed and another 167 were injured. Damage was caused.	648	167
30 [3]	Colombia, Cauca Department	6.0	35.0

February

February

Strongest magnitude	7.8 Mw New Guinea
Deadliest	6.2 Mw Georgia 101+ deaths
Total fatalities	101+
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	2
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2 [4] [5]	New Guinea, East New Britain Province	7.8	35.0		A few homes were destroyed.
7 [6]	Japan, off the east coast of Honshu	6.7	35.0
10 [7]	United States, northwest of Puerto Rico	6.4	15.0
20 [8]	DR Georgia, Shida Kartli	6.2	11.0		At least 101 people were killed and many homes were damaged due to the 1920 Gori earthquake.	101+
22 [9]	Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk	7.1	355.1

March

March

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw southern East Pacific Rise
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
17 [10]	Dutch East Indies, off the west coast of northern Sumatra	6.3	15.0
20 [11]	southern East Pacific Rise	7.0	10.0
29 [12]	Canada, western British Columbia	6.4	15.0

April

April

Strongest magnitude	6.6 Mw Mexico
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	3

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
2 [13]	New Guinea, Oro Province	6.3	15.0
11 [14]	Russian SFSR, Kuril Islands	6.3	15.0
19 [15]	Mexico, Oaxaca	6.6	35.0

May

May

Strongest magnitude	7.0 Mw New Guinea
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	7

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
6 [16]	Russian SFSR, Primorsky Krai	6.5	500.0
7 [17]	Philippines, east of Mindanao	6.8	35.0
7 [18]	British Solomon Islands, south of	6.8	15.0
10 [19]	Dutch East Indies, Banda Sea	6.5	370.0
12 [20]	Japan, off the south coast of Honshu	6.6	150.0
13 [21]	New Guinea, off the north coast of	7.0	25.0
20 [22]	British Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands	6.8	80.0
27 [23]	Dutch East Indies, Java Sea	6.5	600.0

June

June

Strongest magnitude	8.2 Mw Taiwan
Deadliest	8.2 Mw Taiwan 8 deaths
Total fatalities	8
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
5 [24] [25]	Taiwan, east of	8.2	20.0	VII	8 people were killed and 24 were injured. 273 homes were destroyed in the 1920 Hualien earthquake.	5	24
9 [26]	Dutch East Indies, Banda Sea	6.8	15.0

July

July

Strongest magnitude	6.0 Mw Canada
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
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

August

Strongest magnitude	6.9 Mw 2 events
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	4

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
3 [28]	Argentina, Catamarca Province	6.9	15.0
13 [29]	Bolivia, Potosi Department	6.5	150.0
15 [30]	British Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands	6.7	35.0
20 [31] [32]	Chile, Araucania Region	6.9	15.0		Some homes were damaged or destroyed.

September

September

Strongest magnitude	8.1 Mw France
Deadliest	5.8 Mw Italy 1,400 deaths
Total fatalities	1,400
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	1
7.0–7.9	0
6.0–6.9	1
5.0–5.9	1

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
7 [33]	Italy, Emilia-Romagna	5.8	10.0	X	There was conflicting information about the 1920 Garfagnana earthquake. Some sources put the death toll as high as 1,400 whereas others report 171 deaths.	1,400
16 [34]	Japan, southeast of Hokkaido	6.5	35.0
20 [35] [36]	France, Loyalty Islands	8.1	25.0		A tsunami caused some minor damage.

October

October

Strongest magnitude	7.1 Mw Russia
Total fatalities	0
Number by magnitude
8.0–8.9	0
7.0–7.9	1
6.0–6.9	2

Date	Country and location	Mw	Depth (km)	MMI	Notes	Casualties
						Dead	Injured
12 [37]	China, border of Xizang Province and Xinjiang Province	6.7	20.0
18 [38]	Russian SFSR, southern end of Urup, Kuril Islands	7.1	35.0
20 [39]	Taiwan, east of	6.4	15.0

November

November

Strongest magnitude	6.2 Mw Albanian Kingdom
Deadliest	6.2 Mw Albanian Kingdom 200 deaths
Total fatalities	200
Number by magnitude
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

December

Strongest magnitude	8.3 Mw China
Deadliest	8.3 Mw China 242,029 deaths
Total fatalities	242,530
Number by magnitude
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.

References

1. "Significant Earthquake: MEXICO: VERACRUZ: COZAUTLAN, PUEBLA: PATLANALA". National Geophysical Data Center. 3 January 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
2. ISC (27 June 2022), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), Version 9.1, International Seismological Centre
3. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. 30 January 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
4. "M 7.8 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. 2 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
5. "Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: NEW BRITAIN". National Geophysical Data Center. 2 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
6. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 7 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
7. "M 6.4 – Puerto Rico region". United States Geological Survey. 10 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
8. "Significant Earthquake: GEORGIA: CAUCASUS: GORI, TIFLIS". National Geophysical Data Center. 20 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
9. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 22 February 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
10. "M 6.3 – off the west coast of northern Sumatra". United States Geological Survey. 17 March 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
11. "M 7.0 – southern East Pacific Rise". United States Geological Survey. 20 March 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
12. "M 6.4 – Vancouver Island, Canada region". United States Geological Survey. 29 March 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
13. "M 6.3 – eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. 2 April 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
14. "M 6.3 – Kuril Islands". United States Geological Survey. 11 April 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
15. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 19 April 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
16. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 6 May 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
17. "M 6.8 – Mindanao, Philippines". United States Geological Survey. 7 May 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
18. "M 6.8 – Solomon Islands". United States Geological Survey. 7 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
19. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. 10 May 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
20. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 12 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
21. "M 7.0 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea". United States Geological Survey. 13 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
22. "M 6.8 – Santa Cruz Islands". United States Geological Survey. 20 May 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
23. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. 27 May 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
24. "M 8.2 – Taiwan". United States Geological Survey. 5 June 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
25. "Significant Earthquake: TAIWAN". National Geophysical Data Center. 5 June 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
26. "M 6.8 – Banda Sea". United States Geological Survey. 9 June 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
27. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. 7 July 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
28. "M 6.9 – Catamarca, Argentina". United States Geological Survey. 3 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
29. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. 13 August 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
30. "M 6.7 – Santa Cruz Islands". United States Geological Survey. 15 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
31. "M 6.9 – Araucania, Chile". United States Geological Survey. 20 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
32. "Significant Earthquake: CHILE: OFF COAST CENTRAL". National Geophysical Data Center. 20 August 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
33. "Significant Earthquake: ITALY: CARRARA,GARFAGNANA". National Geophysical Data Center. 7 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
34. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 16 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
35. "M 8.1 – Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia". United States Geological Survey. 20 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
36. "Tsunami Event: VANUATU ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. 20 September 1920. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
37. "M 6.7 – Xinjiang-Xizang border region". United States Geological Survey. 12 October 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
38. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 18 October 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
39. "M 6.4 – Taiwan region". United States Geological Survey. 20 October 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
40. "Significant Earthquake: ALBANIA: TEPELENE, DRAGOTI, PESHTANI, MARICAJ". United States Geological Survey. 26 November 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
41. "M 7.3 – Neuquen, Argentina". United States Geological Survey. 10 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
42. "M 8.3 – Gansu-Ningxia border region, China". United States Geological Survey. 16 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
43. "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE, SHANXI PROVINCE". United States Geological Survey. 16 December 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
44. "Significant Earthquake: ARGENTINA: MENDOZA". United States Geological Survey. 17 December 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
45. "Significant Earthquake: ALBANIA: ELBASAN, PEQIN". United States Geological Survey. 18 December 1920. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
46. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 19 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
47. "M 6.8 – Nei Mongol-Ningxia border region, China". United States Geological Survey. 25 December 1920. Retrieved 19 December 2015.