This is a list of earthquakes in 1966 . 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. With only 9 events above magnitude 7.0+ this was a fairly quiet year. The largest event was in Peru in October and measured 8.1. Turkey had the deadliest event of the year when in August a magnitude 6.8 earthquake caused nearly 2,400 deaths. China had a number of deadly earthquakes especially in March. DR Congo also had an earthquake in March which resulted in 140 deaths. Japan and large portions of Indonesia were notably quiet this year.
Earthquakes in 1966 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1966
Strongest magnitude Peru , off the coast of central Peru (Magnitude 8.1) October 17Deadliest China , Hebei Province (Magnitude 6.8) March 22 8,064 deathsTotal fatalities 10,000+ 9.0+ 0
Overall
By death toll Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 8,064 6.8 China , Hebei Province X (Extreme ) 20.0 March 22 2 2,394 6.8 Turkey , Mus Province IX (Violent ) 24.7 August 19 3 140 6.6 DR Congo , North Kivu VIII (Severe ) 29.3 March 20 4 125 8.1 Peru , off the coast of central Peru IX (Violent ) 40.0 October 17 5 101 6.5 China , Hebei Province IX (Violent ) 25.0 March 7 6 80 6.0 Nepal , Sudurpashchim Province VIII (Severe ) 25.9 June 27 7 15 5.6 India , Uttar Pradesh VII (Very strong ) 27.0 August 15 8 12 4.6 Turkey , Mus Province ( 64.0 July 12 9 10 6.0 Turkey , Mus Province VIII (Severe ) 38.0 March 7 9 10 5.1 Soviet Union , Tashkent Region , Uzbekistan VII (Very strong ) 3 ~8 April 26
Note : At least 10 casualties
By magnitude Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 8.1 125 Peru , off the coast of central Peru IX (Violent ) 40.0 October 17 2 7.8 0 United Kingdom , Santa Cruz Islands , Solomon Islands VII (Very strong ) 55.0 December 31 = 3 7.7 0 Indonesia , Morotai VII (Very strong ) 115.0 September 8 = 3 7.7 3 Chile , Antofagasta Region IX (Violent ) 25.0 December 28 4 7.5 7 Taiwan , off the east coast of Taiwan VII (Very strong ) 30.0 March 12 = 5 7.1 0 United Kingdom , British Solomon Islands VI (Strong ) 45.0 June 15 = 5 7.1 0 United Kingdom , Santa Cruz Islands , Solomon Islands VI (Strong ) 35.0 December 31 = 6 7.0 0 Indonesia , Banda Sea III (Weak ) 531.8 June 22 = 6 7.0 0 central Mid-Atlantic Ridge ( 15.0 October 19
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January January Strongest magnitude 6.0 Mw 2 events Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 2 5.0–5.9 1
February
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 4 [5] [6] New Hebrides , Vanuatu 6.4 180.0 IV 5 [7] [8] [9] Greece , Central Greece (region) 6.2 10.0 VII 1 person died and 60 people were injured. 450 homes were destroyed. Property damage costs were $4 million (1966 rate). 1 60 5 [10] [11] [12] China , Yunnan Province 6.4 10.0 IX Many homes were destroyed. 7 [13] [14] Pakistan , Baluchistan, Pakistan 6.5 10.0 VIII Doublet earthquake .7 [15] [16] Pakistan , Punjab, Pakistan 6.5 10.0 VIII 10 [17] United States , Northern Mariana Islands 6.5 45.7 13 [18] Indonesia , Tanimbar Islands 6.0 35.0 13 [19] [20] [21] China , Yunnan Province 5.9 10.0 VII Aftershock of February 5 event. Some homes were destroyed. 16 [22] [23] New Hebrides , Vanuatu 6.6 35.0 VI 22 [24] [25] Australia , East New Britain Province , Papua and New Guinea 6.9 35.0 VI
March March Strongest magnitude 7.5 Mw Taiwan Deadliest 6.6 Mw DR Congo Total fatalities 359 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 11 5.0–5.9 2
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 6 [26] China , Hebei Province 5.2 0.0 VII 11 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. This was a foreshock to a series of large and destructive events over the coming weeks. 6 [27] [28] China , western Xizang Province 6.7 20.0 VII 6 [29] [30] China , western Xizang Province 6.3 20.0 VII Aftershock. 7 [31] Turkey , Mus Province 6.0 38.0 VIII 10 people were killed and major damage was caused. 10 7 [32] [33] [34] China , Hebei Province 6.5 25.0 IX At least 101 people were killed and extensive damage was caused in the 1966 Xingtai earthquake . 101+ 12 [35] [36] [37] Taiwan , off the east coast7.5 30.0 VII The 1966 Hualien earthquake left 7 people dead and 10 injured. Some homes were destroyed. 7 10 17 [38] United Kingdom , Fiji 6.7 625.0 19 [39] China , Hebei Province 5.6 0.0 VI Some homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. Aftershock of March 7 event. Foreshock of March 22 event. 20 [40] [41] [42] DR Congo , North Kivu 6.6 29.3 VIII 140 people were killed and at least 101 injured in the 1966 Toro earthquake . Property damage costs were $1.5 million (1966 rate). 140 101+ 22 [43] [44] China , Hebei Province 6.2 20.0 VII Foreshock. 22 [45] [46] [47] China , Hebei Province 6.8 20.0 X The 1966 Xingtai earthquake caused at least 101 deaths and further damage. 101+ 23 [48] [49] Taiwan , off the east coast6.2 49.5 V 26 [50] [51] [52] China , Hebei Province 6.0 20.0 VII Some homes were destroyed. Aftershock. 29 [53] [54] China , Hebei Province 6.0 20.0 VII Aftershock.
April
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 8 [55] [56] Soviet Union , off the east coast of Kamchatka 6.2 46.6 VI 10 [57] [58] Chile , Coquimbo Region 6.1 60.5 VI 12 [59] [60] Chile , Araucania Region 6.2 35.0 VII 16 [61] United States , Kodiak Island , Alaska 6.2 15.0 20 [62] China , Hebei Province 5.3 0.0 22 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. Aftershock of March 22 event. 20 [63] [64] Soviet Union , Dagestan , Russia 6.0 20.0 VII 23 [65] [66] Indonesia , Gulf of Tomini 6.5 20.0 VII 23 [67] [68] Indonesia , Gulf of Tomini 6.1 35.0 V Aftershock. 26 [69] Soviet Union , Tashkent Region , Uzbekistan 5.1 3.0~8.0 VII The 1966 Tashkent earthquake caused 10 deaths and major damage. Costs were $300 million (1966 rate). It is unknown if the depth is correct or not. 10
May May Strongest magnitude 6.4 Mw Peru Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 4
June
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 6 [77] [78] Afghanistan , Badakhshan Province 6.6 215.6 IV 6 [79] [80] Philippines , east of Mindanao 6.0 25.0 V 7 [81] [82] Peru , off the coast of central6.2 20.0 VI 7 [83] United States , State of Yap , Federated States of Micronesia 6.8 35.0 13 [84] United Kingdom , Santa Cruz Islands , British Solomon Islands 6.7 241.6 15 [85] [86] United Kingdom , Solomon Islands 7.1 45.0 VI 15 [87] [88] United Kingdom , British Solomon Islands 6.8 45.0 VII Aftershock. 22 [89] [90] Indonesia , Banda Sea 7.0 531.8 III 27 [91] [92] [93] Nepal , Sudurpashchim Province 6.0 25.9 VIII 80 people were killed and 100 were injured. 5,200 homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $1 million (1966 rate). Foreshock. 80 100 27 [94] [95] Nepal , Sudurpashchim Province 6.3 25.0 VI 29 [96] New Hebrides , Vanuatu 6.0 45.0
July July Strongest magnitude 6.8 Mw United States Deadliest 4.6 Mw Turkey Total fatalities 12 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 3 5.0–5.9 0
August August Strongest magnitude 6.9 Mw 2 events Deadliest 6.8 Mw Turkey Total fatalities 2,409 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 10 5.0–5.9 1
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 1 [103] [104] Pakistan , Baluchistan, Pakistan 6.0 20.2 VII Foreshock. 1 [105] [106] Pakistan , Baluchistan, Pakistan 6.2 25.0 VII Foreshock. 1 [107] [108] Pakistan , Baluchistan, Pakistan 6.9 25.0 VIII 7 [109] United States , south of the Aleutian Islands , Alaska 6.9 19.7 7 [110] [111] Mexico , Gulf of California 6.5 15.0 VI 10 [112] Tonga 6.0 98.0 15 [113] [114] [115] India , Uttar Pradesh 5.6 27.0 VIII 15 people were killed and some damage was caused. 15 15 [116] [117] Philippines , off the northeast coast of Mindoro 6.0 19.8 VI 19 [118] [119] [120] Turkey , Mus Province 6.8 24.7 IX 2,394 people were killed in the 1966 Varto earthquake . Extensive property damage was caused with costs being around $20 million (1966 rate). 2,394 20 [121] [122] Turkey , Bingol Province 6.2 25.0 VII Aftershock. 21 [123] [124] Philippines , off the east coast of Mindanao 6.0 35.0 V
September September Strongest magnitude 7.7 Mw Indonesia Deadliest 5.9 Mw Greece 1 death Total fatalities 1 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 3 5.0–5.9 3
October October Strongest magnitude 8.1 Mw Peru Deadliest 8.1 Mw Peru Total fatalities 126 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2 5.0–5.9 2
November
December
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 1 [153] [154] New Hebrides , Vanuatu 6.8 125.0 VI 14 [155] [156] Australia , East Sepik Province , Papua and New Guinea 6.3 65.0 VI 20 [157] Argentina , Santiago del Estero Province 6.3 578.0 21 [158] New Hebrides , Vanuatu 6.3 230.0 23 [159] [160] Australia , off the east coast of Papua and New Guinea 6.6 30.0 V 28 [161] [162] [163] Chile , Antofagasta Region 7.7 25.0 IX 3 people were killed and 6 were injured. Many homes were destroyed. Damage costs were $400,000 (1966 rate). 3 6 31 [164] [165] United Kingdom , Santa Cruz Islands , Solomon Islands 7.8 55.0 VII 31 [166] [167] United Kingdom , Santa Cruz Islands , Solomon Islands 7.1 35.0 VI Aftershock.
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Peru, off the coast of central Peru (Magnitude 8.1) October 17
China, Hebei Province (Magnitude 6.8) March 22 8,064 deaths
