This is a list of earthquakes in 2012. 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. Two huge 8 magnitude earthquakes (8.6 and 8.2) struck
Indonesia in April, but caused little damage, and no tsunami. The deadliest quake occurred in
Iran, while other destructive tremors were observed in
Philippines,
China, or
Afghanistan.
Note that an increase in detected earthquake numbers does not necessarily represent an increase in earthquakes per se. Population increase, habitation spread, and advances in earthquake detection technology all contribute to higher earthquake numbers being recorded over time.
USGS's Website has more information.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, near Taron, on April 6, at a depth of 85.4 km.[43]
A
magnitude 8.6 earthquake hit Indonesia, off northern
Sumatra, on April 11 at a depth of 22.9 km followed by several aftershocks including an 8.2.[44] Ten people were killed and several others injured.[45]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the southeast coast of
Taiwan on April 11 at a depth of 10 km.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Mexico, near
Michoacán, on April 11, at a depth of 20 km.[46]
A magnitude 6.2 struck
Baja California, Mexico on April 12 followed by a strong aftershock of 6.9.[47]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Drake Passage, near
Argentina and
Chile, on April 14, at a depth of 9.9 km.[48]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near
Isangel, Vanuatu, on April 14 at a depth of 8.0 km.[49]
A magnitude 6.2 struck off the coast of
Sumatra, Indonesia, on April 15 at a depth of 15.2 km.[50]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Chile, near
Valparaíso, on April 17, at a depth of 37 km.[51] One person died of a heart attack and another due to the loss of power at a local hospital.[citation needed]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, about 137 km north of
Lae, on April 17 at a depth of 208.2 km.[52]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck east of the
South Sandwich Islands, on April 17 at a depth of 1 km.[53]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near the north coast of
Papua, Indonesia, on April 21 at a depth of 29.8 km.[54]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit Tonga, near
Neiafu, on April 28, at a depth of 129.4 km.[55]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck offshore of
Chiapas in
Mexico on May 1, at a depth of 14 km.[56]
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the western part of
Azerbaijan on May 7, at a depth of 23 km. 35 people were injured as well as 3,100 buildings were damaged. Some damage also occurred in
Georgia.[57]
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck
Tajikistan on May 12, at a depth of 10 km. One person was killed.[45]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near the
Peru-Chile border on May 14, at a depth of 98.3 km.[58]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck about 180 km off the east coast of
Honshū Japan on May 20, at a depth of 15 km.[64]
A
magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck 24 km west of
Bulgaria's capital
Sofia on May 22, at a depth of 9.4 km. A woman who suffered a heart attack was the only indirect fatality.[65]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck about 100 km northeast of
Hokkaido Japan on May 23, at a depth of 40.7 km.[66]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit 600 km northwest of
Tromsø Norway on May 24, at a depth of 8.8 km.[67]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck about 225 km northwest of
Iwo Jima, in the
Bonin Islands region of Japan on May 26, at a depth of 472.6 km.[68]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southern pacific coast of Costa Rica Punta Burica, on June 3, at a depth of 10 km.[72]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean 346 km south of
David,
Panama on 4 June, at a depth of 7 km.[73]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean 323 km south of
David,
Panama on 4 June, at a depth of 5.9 km.[74]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck
Arequipa,
Peru on 7 June, at a depth of 99.7 km.[75]
Two earthquakes measuring 5.4 and 5.7 struck
Afghanistan on June 11, collapsing buildings and triggering landslides, one of which buried the village of Sayi Hazara.[76] 75 people were reported dead as a result of the landslide.[77]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit the Philippines near Dagupan, Luzon, on June 16, at a depth of 35.3 km.[78]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean 28 km southeast of
Ofunato, Japan on 18 June, at a depth of 36 km.[79]
A magnitude 6.0 quake struck 24 km northwest of
Macquarie Island Australia, on June 22, at a depth of 9.9 km.[80]
A magnitude 6.1 quake struck near the east coast of
Kamchatka on June 24, at a depth of 17 km.[81]
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the
Sichuan–
Yunnan border region of China on June 24, at a depth of 9.3 km (5.8 miles). At least four people died, and more than 150 others were injured.[82][83]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Northern
Xinjiang on June 30, at a depth of 10 km.[84]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck
Jan Mayen, on August 30, at a depth of 9.9 km.[109]
A
magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck offshore the
Philippines, near Guiuan, Samar on August 31, at a depth of 33 km. One person was killed and another injured.[110]
Two quakes measuring 5.6 struck China's
Yunnan Province on September 7, at a depth of 9.9 km. At least 81 deaths and 821 injuries were reported, with more than 20,000 homes damaged.[114][115]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the north coast of
Papua, Indonesia, on September 8, at a depth of 14.1 km.[116]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the
Kuril Islands, Russia, on September 9, at a depth of 58.7 km.[117]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Kepulauan Mentawai Region, Indonesia, on September 14, at a depth of 19.8 km.[118]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the La Paz
Mexico, on September 26, at a depth of 10.1 km.[119]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near the Tanaga Volcano,
Alaska, on September 26, at a depth of 9.9 km.[120]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Pinotepa Nacional,
Oaxaca, on September 29, at depth of 20 km.[121]
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near Isnos, Colombia, on September 30, at a depth of 170 km.[122]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck west of
New Caledonia, on October 23, at a depth of 127 km.[133]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Hojancha,
Costa Rica on October 24, at depth of 20.1 km.[134]
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck
Mormanno,
Italy, on October 25, at depth of 3.8 km. 1 indirect death was reported, along with moderate damage.[135]
A
magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the
Haida Gwaii region,
Canada, on October 28 at a depth of 20 km. One person died in a crash near a road that was closed because of a tsunami threat near
Hawaii's northern coast.[1] This was later followed by a magnitude 6.3 aftershock, at a depth of 8.2 km, and a magnitude 6.2 aftershock on October 29, at a depth of 10 km.[136][137][138]
This is a list of earthquakes in 2012. 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. Two huge 8 magnitude earthquakes (8.6 and 8.2) struck
Indonesia in April, but caused little damage, and no tsunami. The deadliest quake occurred in
Iran, while other destructive tremors were observed in
Philippines,
China, or
Afghanistan.
Note that an increase in detected earthquake numbers does not necessarily represent an increase in earthquakes per se. Population increase, habitation spread, and advances in earthquake detection technology all contribute to higher earthquake numbers being recorded over time.
USGS's Website has more information.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, near Taron, on April 6, at a depth of 85.4 km.[43]
A
magnitude 8.6 earthquake hit Indonesia, off northern
Sumatra, on April 11 at a depth of 22.9 km followed by several aftershocks including an 8.2.[44] Ten people were killed and several others injured.[45]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the southeast coast of
Taiwan on April 11 at a depth of 10 km.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Mexico, near
Michoacán, on April 11, at a depth of 20 km.[46]
A magnitude 6.2 struck
Baja California, Mexico on April 12 followed by a strong aftershock of 6.9.[47]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Drake Passage, near
Argentina and
Chile, on April 14, at a depth of 9.9 km.[48]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near
Isangel, Vanuatu, on April 14 at a depth of 8.0 km.[49]
A magnitude 6.2 struck off the coast of
Sumatra, Indonesia, on April 15 at a depth of 15.2 km.[50]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Chile, near
Valparaíso, on April 17, at a depth of 37 km.[51] One person died of a heart attack and another due to the loss of power at a local hospital.[citation needed]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, about 137 km north of
Lae, on April 17 at a depth of 208.2 km.[52]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck east of the
South Sandwich Islands, on April 17 at a depth of 1 km.[53]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near the north coast of
Papua, Indonesia, on April 21 at a depth of 29.8 km.[54]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit Tonga, near
Neiafu, on April 28, at a depth of 129.4 km.[55]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck offshore of
Chiapas in
Mexico on May 1, at a depth of 14 km.[56]
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck the western part of
Azerbaijan on May 7, at a depth of 23 km. 35 people were injured as well as 3,100 buildings were damaged. Some damage also occurred in
Georgia.[57]
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck
Tajikistan on May 12, at a depth of 10 km. One person was killed.[45]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near the
Peru-Chile border on May 14, at a depth of 98.3 km.[58]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck about 180 km off the east coast of
Honshū Japan on May 20, at a depth of 15 km.[64]
A
magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck 24 km west of
Bulgaria's capital
Sofia on May 22, at a depth of 9.4 km. A woman who suffered a heart attack was the only indirect fatality.[65]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck about 100 km northeast of
Hokkaido Japan on May 23, at a depth of 40.7 km.[66]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit 600 km northwest of
Tromsø Norway on May 24, at a depth of 8.8 km.[67]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck about 225 km northwest of
Iwo Jima, in the
Bonin Islands region of Japan on May 26, at a depth of 472.6 km.[68]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southern pacific coast of Costa Rica Punta Burica, on June 3, at a depth of 10 km.[72]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean 346 km south of
David,
Panama on 4 June, at a depth of 7 km.[73]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean 323 km south of
David,
Panama on 4 June, at a depth of 5.9 km.[74]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck
Arequipa,
Peru on 7 June, at a depth of 99.7 km.[75]
Two earthquakes measuring 5.4 and 5.7 struck
Afghanistan on June 11, collapsing buildings and triggering landslides, one of which buried the village of Sayi Hazara.[76] 75 people were reported dead as a result of the landslide.[77]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit the Philippines near Dagupan, Luzon, on June 16, at a depth of 35.3 km.[78]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean 28 km southeast of
Ofunato, Japan on 18 June, at a depth of 36 km.[79]
A magnitude 6.0 quake struck 24 km northwest of
Macquarie Island Australia, on June 22, at a depth of 9.9 km.[80]
A magnitude 6.1 quake struck near the east coast of
Kamchatka on June 24, at a depth of 17 km.[81]
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck the
Sichuan–
Yunnan border region of China on June 24, at a depth of 9.3 km (5.8 miles). At least four people died, and more than 150 others were injured.[82][83]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Northern
Xinjiang on June 30, at a depth of 10 km.[84]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck
Jan Mayen, on August 30, at a depth of 9.9 km.[109]
A
magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck offshore the
Philippines, near Guiuan, Samar on August 31, at a depth of 33 km. One person was killed and another injured.[110]
Two quakes measuring 5.6 struck China's
Yunnan Province on September 7, at a depth of 9.9 km. At least 81 deaths and 821 injuries were reported, with more than 20,000 homes damaged.[114][115]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the north coast of
Papua, Indonesia, on September 8, at a depth of 14.1 km.[116]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the
Kuril Islands, Russia, on September 9, at a depth of 58.7 km.[117]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Kepulauan Mentawai Region, Indonesia, on September 14, at a depth of 19.8 km.[118]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the La Paz
Mexico, on September 26, at a depth of 10.1 km.[119]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near the Tanaga Volcano,
Alaska, on September 26, at a depth of 9.9 km.[120]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Pinotepa Nacional,
Oaxaca, on September 29, at depth of 20 km.[121]
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near Isnos, Colombia, on September 30, at a depth of 170 km.[122]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck west of
New Caledonia, on October 23, at a depth of 127 km.[133]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Hojancha,
Costa Rica on October 24, at depth of 20.1 km.[134]
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck
Mormanno,
Italy, on October 25, at depth of 3.8 km. 1 indirect death was reported, along with moderate damage.[135]
A
magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the
Haida Gwaii region,
Canada, on October 28 at a depth of 20 km. One person died in a crash near a road that was closed because of a tsunami threat near
Hawaii's northern coast.[1] This was later followed by a magnitude 6.3 aftershock, at a depth of 8.2 km, and a magnitude 6.2 aftershock on October 29, at a depth of 10 km.[136][137][138]