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 Republic of China, Ningxia Province 3 , Veracruz 4 , Mendoza Province 5 , Gjirokaster County 6 , Emilia-Romagna = 7 , Shida Kartli = 7 , Vlore County Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 China, Ningxia Province 2 Taiwan, east of 3 France, Loyalty Islands = 4 New Guinea, East New Britain Province 5 Argentina, Neuquen Province = 6 Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk = 6 Russian SFSR, southern end of Urup, Kuril Islands = 7 southern East Pacific Rise = 7 New Guinea, off the north coast of Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Mexico, Veracruz 6.3 15.0 The 1920 Xalapa earthquake left 648 people were killed and another 167 were injured. Damage was caused. 648 167 Colombia, Cauca Department 6.0 35.0
February
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured New Guinea, East New Britain Province 7.8 35.0 A few homes were destroyed. Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 6.7 35.0 United States, northwest of Puerto Rico 6.4 15.0 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+ Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk 7.1 355.1
March
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the west coast of northern Sumatra 6.3 15.0 southern East Pacific Rise 7.0 10.0 Canada, western British Columbia 6.4 15.0
April
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured New Guinea, Oro Province 6.3 15.0 , Kuril Islands 6.3 15.0 Mexico, Oaxaca 6.6 35.0
May
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Primorsky Krai 6.5 500.0 Philippines, east of Mindanao 6.8 35.0 British Solomon Islands, south of 6.8 15.0 Dutch East Indies, Banda Sea 6.5 370.0 Japan, off the south coast of Honshu 6.6 150.0 New Guinea, off the north coast of 7.0 25.0 British Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands 6.8 80.0 Dutch East Indies, Java Sea 6.5 600.0
June
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Taiwan, east of 8.2 20.0 8 people were killed and 24 were injured. 273 homes were destroyed in the 1920 Hualien earthquake. 5 24 Dutch East Indies, Banda Sea 6.8 15.0
July
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Canada, southern Yukon Territory 6.0 35.0
August
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Argentina, Catamarca Province 6.9 15.0 Bolivia, Potosi Department 6.5 150.0 British Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz Islands 6.7 35.0 Chile, Araucania Region 6.9 15.0 Some homes were damaged or destroyed.
September
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Italy, Emilia-Romagna 5.8 10.0 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 Japan, southeast of Hokkaido 6.5 35.0 France, Loyalty Islands 8.1 25.0 A tsunami caused some minor damage.
October
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured China, border of Xizang Province and Xinjiang Province 6.7 20.0 , southern end of Urup, Kuril Islands 7.1 35.0 Taiwan, east of 6.4 15.0
November
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Albania, Gjirokaster County 6.2 25.0 200 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed. 200
December
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Argentina, Neuquen Province 7.3 15.0 China, Ningxia 8.3 15.0 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 Argentina, Mendoza Province 6.0 10.0 400 people were killed and many homes were destroyed in the 1920 Mendoza earthquake. 400 Albania, Vlore County 5.6 0.0 At least 101 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed. 101+ Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 6.8 35.0 China, Ningxia 6.8 15.0 Aftershock.
References