This is a list of earthquakes in 1976 . Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. 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. The main point of note from this year was the devastation seen across the globe from several catastrophic events. Several countries experienced their worst ever natural disasters. Chronologically, Guatemala in February suffered 23,000 deaths. Indonesia in June had an earthquake causing 6,000 deaths. China in July had officially 242,000 deaths from the 1976 Tangshan earthquake . This was the worst toll from an earthquake for over 400 years. Shortly afterwards the Philippines had 8,000 fatalities. Towards the year end Turkey had an event resulting in 5,000 deaths. Although not as devastating Italy had nearly 1,000 deaths in May with subsequent aftershocks causing further destruction.
Earthquakes in 1976 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1976
Strongest magnitude New Zealand , Kermadec Islands , January 14 Philippines , Mindanao , August 16 (both Magnitude 8.0)Deadliest China , Hebei Province (Magnitude 7.5), July 27, 242,769 deathsTotal fatalities 286,873 9.0+ 0 8.0–8.9 2 7.0–7.9 12 6.0–6.9 59 5.0–5.9 1,665 4.0–4.9 2,544
By death toll Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 242,769 7.5 China , Hebei Province XI (Extreme ) 23.0 July 27 2 23,000 7.5 Guatemala , Izabal Department IX (Violent ) 5.0 February 4 3 8,000 8.0 Philippines , Mindanao VIII (Severe ) 33.0 August 16 4 6,000 7.1 Indonesia , Papua (province) VII (Very strong ) 33.0 June 25 5 5,000 7.3 Turkey , Van Province X (Extreme ) 36.0 November 24 6 978 6.5 Italy , Fruili Venezia Giulia X (Extreme ) 9.0 May 6 7 573 6.5 Indonesia , Bali VII (Very strong ) 40.0 July 14 8 133 7.1 Indonesia , Papua (province) VIII (Severe ) 33.0 October 29 = 9 101 6.9 China , Yunnan IX (Violent ) 8.0 May 29 = 9 101 7.0 China , Yunnan IX (Violent ) 10.0 May 29 = 9 101 7.4 China , Hebei Province IX (Violent ) 26.0 July 28 10 49 5.6 Afghanistan , Balkh Province VIII (Severe ) 33.0 March 19 11 17 6.2 Iran , South Khorasan Province VIII (Severe ) 13.0 November 7 12 11 6.0 Italy , Friuli-Venezia Giulia IX (Violent ) 10.0 September 15 13 10 6.7 Ecuador , Esmeraldas Province VIII (Severe ) 9.0 April 9
Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.
By magnitude Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date = 1 8.0 0 New Zealand , Kermadec Islands VII (Very strong ) 33.0 January 14 = 1 8.0 8,000 Philippines , Mindanao VIII (Severe ) 33.0 August 16 = 2 7.5 23,000 Guatemala , Izabel Department VIII (Severe ) 5.0 February 4 = 2 7.5 242,769 China , Hebei Province XI (Extreme ) 23.0 July 27 3 7.4 101 China , Hebei Province IX (Violent ) 26.0 July 28 4 7.3 5,000 Turkey , Van Province X (Extreme ) 36.0 November 24 = 5 7.1 6,000 Indonesia , Papua (province) VII (Very strong ) 33.0 June 25 = 5 7.1 133 Indonesia , Papua (province) VIII (Severe ) 33.0 October 29 = 6 7.0 0 Soviet Union , Kuril Islands , RussiaVIII (Severe ) 41.0 January 21 = 6 7.0 0 Soviet Union , Bukhara Region , UzbekistanIX (Violent ) 33.0 April 8 = 6 7.0 0 Soviet Union , Bukhara Region , UzbekistanX (Extreme ) 10.0 May 17 = 6 7.0 101 China , Yunnan IX (Violent ) 10.0 May 29 = 6 7.0 0 Indonesia , Sumatra VI (Strong ) 33.0 June 20 = 6 7.0 5 Panama IX (Violent ) 3.0 July 11
Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.
By month
January January Strongest magnitude 8.0 Mw New Zealand Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 3 5.0–5.9 235 4.0–4.9 306
February February Strongest magnitude 7.5 Mw Guatemala Deadliest 7.5 Mw Guatemala Total fatalities 23,000 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2 5.0–5.9 128 4.0–4.9 189
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 4 [8] [9] [10] Guatemala, Izabal Department 7.5 5.0 IX The 1976 Guatemala earthquake caused major destruction in Guatemala. 23,000 people died and 76,000 were injured. Major damage was caused to property and infrastructure. Damage costs were $2.147 billion (1976 rate). Many aftershocks followed with additional damage being caused to weakened structures. 23,000 76,000 6 [11] [12] Papua New Guinea, Madang Province 6.0 37.0 VI 15 [13] Philippines, northeast of Samar 6.1 33.0
March March Strongest magnitude 6.8 Mw New Zealand Deadliest 5.6 Mw Afghanistan Total fatalities 55 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 5 5.0–5.9 119 4.0–4.9 193
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 3 [14] [15] Indonesia, north of Flores 6.0 30.0 V 4 [16] [17] 6.4 90.0 VI 8 [18] United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands , Solomon Islands 6.1 47.0 13 [19] [20] Papua New Guinea, west of Bougainville Island 6.1 50.0 V 13 [21] [22] [23] Guatemala, Chimaltenango Department 5.4 5.0 VII Aftershock of February 4 event. 4 people were killed and 50 were injured. Some additional damage was caused. 4 50 19 [24] [25] [26] Afghanistan, Balkh Province 5.6 33.0 VIII 49 people were killed and 59 were injured. 1,137 homes were destroyed and another 559 damaged. 49 59 24 [27] New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 6.8 33.0 Aftershock of January 14 event. 25 [28] [29] [30] Turkey, Ardahan Province 4.8 18.0 VI 2 people were killed and 6 were injured. Some damage was reported. 2 6
April April Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw Soviet Union, Uzbekistan Deadliest 6.7 Mw Ecuador Total fatalities 14 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 5 5.0–5.9 95 4.0–4.9 204
May May Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw 2 events. Deadliest 6.5 Mw Italy Total fatalities 1,180 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 7 5.0–5.9 122 4.0–4.9 230
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 4 [48] [49] New Zealand, South Island 6.6 19.0 VII 5 [50] New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 6.8 35.0 Aftershock of January 14 event. 6 [51] [52] [53] Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 6.5 9.0 X The 1976 Friuli earthquake caused 978 deaths and 1,700 injuries. Major property damage was caused. Costs were $3.6 billion (1976 rate). 990 1,700 11 [54] [55] Greece, Ionian Sea 6.4 33.0 V 15 [56] [57] Peru, Junin Region 6.6 33.0 VII 17 [58] [59] [60] Soviet Union, Bukhara Region , Uzbekistan 7.0 10.0 X Doublet earthquake along with event on April 8. Property damage costs were $85 million (1976 rate).29 [61] [62] [63] China, Yunnan 6.9 8.0 IX Doublet earthquake . At least 101 people were killed and major damage was caused.101 29 [64] [65] [66] China, Yunnan 7.0 10.0 IX 31 [67] [68] China, Yunnan 6.2 14.0 VII Aftershock.
June June Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Indonesia Deadliest 7.1 Mw Indonesia Total fatalities 6,000 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 6 5.0–5.9 130 4.0–4.9 200
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 3 [69] [70] Papua New Guinea, southeast of New Ireland (island) 6.2 88.0 VI 5 [71] [72] United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.2 61.0 V 7 [73] [74] Philippines, east of Catanduanes 6.4 33.0 V 7 [75] [76] [77] Mexico, Guerrero 6.4 45.0 VI Some damage was caused. 17 [78] [79] Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 6.1 24.0 VII Aftershock of May 6 event. 20 [80] [81] Indonesia, off the west coast of northern Sumatra 7.0 33.0 VI 25 [82] [83] [84] Indonesia, Papua (province) 7.1 33.0 VII The 1976 Papua earthquake caused in total 6,000 deaths. Major damage was caused. 6,000 26 [85] [86] Indonesia, Talaud Islands 6.5 33.0 VIII
July July Strongest magnitude 7.5 Mw China Deadliest 7.5 Mw China Total fatalities 243,347 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 3 6.0–6.9 7 5.0–5.9 149 4.0–4.9 271
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 11 [87] [88] [89] Panama, off the south coast 6.7 22.0 VIII Foreshock. Some damage was caused. 11 [90] [91] [92] Panama, off the south coast 7.0 3.0 IX 5 people were killed and 7 were injured. Further damage was reported. 5 7 14 [93] [94] [95] Indonesia, Bali 6.5 40.0 VII The 1976 Bali earthquake caused 573 deaths. Another 4,755 people were injured. Damage costs were $195 million (1976 rate). 573 4,755 17 [96] [97] Papua New Guinea, New Ireland (island) 6.6 53.0 VII 21 [98] [99] China, Yunnan 6.3 9.0 VII Aftershock of May 29 event. 26 [100] [101] [102] Malaysia, Sabah 6.2 33.0 VII The 1976 Sabah earthquake resulted in some damage. 27 [103] [104] [105] China, Hebei 7.5 23.0 XI This was the deadliest event of the 20th century , and one of the deadliest events of all time. Deadliest event of 1976. The 1976 Tangshan earthquake struck causing devastation to the area. 242,769 people died according to official information. Around 799,000 were hurt. Property damage was extensive with costs reaching $5.6 billion (1976 rate). 242,769 799,000 28 [106] [107] [108] China, Hebei 7.4 26.0 IX Aftershock resulted in at least 101 more deaths. Many homes collapsed. 101 28 [109] [110] 6.0 5.0 VI 28 [111] [112] Soviet Union, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region , Tajikistan 6.1 50.0 V 28 [113] [114] Soviet Union, Chechnya , Russia 6.1 21.0 VII
August August Strongest magnitude 8.0 Mw Philippines Deadliest 8.0 Mw Philippines Total fatalities 8,005 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 7 5.0–5.9 150 4.0–4.9 214
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 2 [115] [116] 6.9 52.0 VI 12 [117] [118] Burma, Kachin State 6.4 27.0 VI 16 [119] [120] China, Sichuan 6.9 16.0 VII 1976 Songpan-Pingwu earthquake .16 [121] [122] [123] [124] Philippines, off the south coast of Mindanao 8.0 33.0 VIII Largest event of 1976. The 1976 Moro Gulf earthquake caused extensive destruction mostly through a tsunami which followed the shaking. In total 8,000 people were killed and 10,000 were hurt. Damages of $134 million (1976 rate) were caused.8,000 10,000 17 [125] [126] Philippines, off the northeast coast of Mindanao 6.0 34.0 V 17 [127] [128] [129] Philippines, off the south coast of Mindanao 6.8 22.0 IX The strong aftershock caused at least 1 additional death and further damage. 1 19 [130] [131] [132] Turkey, Denizli Province 5.0 3.0 VIII 4 people were killed and 50 injured. 1,800 homes were damaged. 4 50 21 [133] [134] China, Sichuan 6.4 33.0 VI Aftershock of August 16 event. 23 [135] [136] China, Sichuan 6.7 33.0 VII Aftershock of August 16 event.
September September Strongest magnitude 6.5 Mw New Zealand Deadliest 6.0 Mw Italy Total fatalities 16 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 3 5.0–5.9 156 4.0–4.9 198
October October Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Indonesia Deadliest 7.1 Mw Indonesia Total fatalities 133 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 1 5.0–5.9 126 4.0–4.9 182
November November Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Turkey Deadliest 7.3 Mw Turkey Total fatalities 5,018 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 10 5.0–5.9 116 4.0–4.9 159
Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties Dead Injured 6 [155] [156] China, Sichuan 6.5 33.0 VII 7 [157] [158] [159] Iran, South Khorasan Province 6.2 13.0 VIII 17 people were killed and major damage was caused. 17 7 [160] [161] Philippines, Mindanao 6.8 60.0 VII 8 [162] Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 6.0 38.0 15 [163] [164] China, Tianjin 6.3 15.0 VII Aftershock of July 27 event. 18 [165] [166] United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.5 33.0 VI 18 [167] [168] Indonesia, Papua (province) 6.3 33.0 IX 22 [169] [170] Philippines, off the south coast of Mindanao 6.0 60.0 IV Aftershock of August 16 event. 24 [171] [172] [173] Turkey, Van Province 7.3 36.0 X The 1976 Çaldıran–Muradiye earthquake caused 5,000 deaths and at least 101 injuries. $60 million (1976 rate) in property destruction was caused. 5,000 101 26 [174] [175] United States, off the coast of northern California 6.3 41.8 V 27 [176] [177] [178] Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province 6.1 190.0 V Some damage was reported. 30 [179] [180] [181] Chile, Tarapaca Region 6.5 82.0 VIII 1 person died with a further 13 injured. Some damage was reported. 1 13
December December Strongest magnitude 6.7 Mw Canada Deadliest 5.2 Mw South Africa Total fatalities 4 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 1 5.0–5.9 139 4.0–4.9 198
References .svg)
New Zealand, Kermadec Islands, January 14 
Philippines, Mindanao, August 16 (both Magnitude 8.0)
China, Hebei Province (Magnitude 7.5), July 27, 242,769 deaths
.svg){kind=small}
