List of earthquakes in 1940

Earthquakes in 1940
Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1940

  • 5.0−5.9 magnitude
  • 6.0−6.9 magnitude

  • 7.0−7.9 magnitude
  • 8.0+ magnitude

Strongest
magnitude
2 quakes reached magnitude 7.5.
Deadliest Romania Vrancea County, Romania (Magnitude 7.3) November 10 1,000 deaths
Total fatalities 1,485
Number by magnitude
9.0+ 0
8.0−8.9 0
7.0−7.9 18
6.0−6.9 105
5.0−5.9 2
 1939
1941 

This is a list of earthquakes in 1940. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury or damage. All dates are listed according to UTC time. The United States was most active this year with 4 magnitude 7.0+ events. Amongst them was a deadly magnitude 7.1 quake in California in May which resulted in 9 deaths. Overall with 18 magnitude 7.0+ events worldwide this was a fairly busy year. The death toll was substantially lower than 1939. The worst event was in Romania in November with 1,000 deaths. Other quakes in China and Peru resulted in significant fatalities.

Overall

By death toll

Rank Death toll Magnitude Location Depth (km) Date
1 1,000 7.3 Romania Vrancea County, Romania 122.0 November 10
2 181 6.0 China Yunnan Province, China 35.0 April 6
3 179 7.5 Peru near Huacho, Peru 50.1 May 24
4 51 6.0 China Inner Mongolia, China 35.0 January 19
5 37 0.0 Turkey Kayseri Province, Turkey 0.0 February 20
6 16 6.5 Georgia (country) Imereti, Georgia (country) 50.0 May 7
7 10 7.5 Japan eastern Sea of Japan 35.0 August 1

By magnitude

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location Depth (km) Date
1 7.5 179 Peru near Huacho, Peru 50.1 May 24
1 7.5 10 Japan eastern Sea of Japan 35.0 August 1
2 7.4 0 United States Rat Islands, Alaska 35.0 July 14
3 7.3 0 Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands 31.3 January 17
3 7.3 0 China Heilongjiang Province, China 577.6 July 10
3 7.3 1,000 Romania Vrancea County, Romania 122.0 November 10
3 7.3 0 Northern Mariana Islands Northern Mariana Islands 35.0 December 28
4 7.2 0 New Caledonia southeast of the Loyalty Islands 79.7 January 6
5 7.1 0 United States southeast of Attu Island, Alaska 35.0 April 16
5 7.1 9 United States southern California 15.0 May 19
5 7.1 0 Papua New Guinea southeast New Ireland (island), Papua New Guinea 40.0 September 12
5 7.1 0 Chile off the coast of Tarapaca Region, Chile 23.5 October 4
6 7.0 0 Vanuatu Vanuatu 190.5 February 20
6 7.0 0 Indonesia Papua (province), Indonesia 35.0 May 28
6 7.0 0 United States Fox Islands (Alaska) 60.0 August 22
6 7.0 0 New Caledonia southeast of the Loyalty Islands 80.0 September 19
6 7.0 0 Philippines Mindanao, Philippines 680.0 September 22
6 7.0 0 Chile Chiloe Island, Los Lagos Region, Chile 15.0 October 11

Notable events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

References

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  134. "M7.3 - Mariana Islands region". United States Geological Survey. December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2014.