This is a list of earthquakes in 1977. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. Events in remote areas will not be listed but included in statistics and maps. Countries are entered on the lists in order of their status in this particular year. 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. Not a particularly busy year as far as the number of magnitude 7.0+ events with 11 being recorded. The largest event struck Indonesia in August and measured magnitude 8.3. The Solomon Islands were affected by a series of magnitude 7.5 events in April. Several events caused significant numbers of fatalities especially in Iran which had 3 earthquakes throughout the year with a combined death toll of around 1,120 people. The deadliest earthquake occurred in Romania in March and was the worst in the country's history. 1,641 people were killed in this event.

By death toll Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , Vrancea County 2 , Kerman Province 3 , Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province 4 , south of Sumbawa 5 , Hormozgan Province 6 , San Juan Province, Argentina 7 , Guadalcanal 8 , Elazığ Province 9 , Guadalcanal Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.

By magnitude Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , south of Sumbawa 2 = 3 , Vrancea County = 3 , Guadalcanal = 3 , Guadalcanal = 3 , Guadalcanal 4 , San Juan Province, Argentina = 5 = 5 , south of 6 , east of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 7 , Luzon Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.

By month

January

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Qinghai Province 6.3 27.0 , south of Sumbawa 6.3 19.0 , off the north coast of East Sepik Province 6.6 33.0 , Antofagasta Region 6.3 33.0 , Cook Strait 6.0 50.0 , Bali 5.2 33.0 Some damage was caused. , Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan 6.1 20.0 Some damage was caused.

February

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Salta Province 6.0 549.0 , Near Islands, Alaska 6.7 33.0

March

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Moro Gulf, Mindanao 6.1 52.0 , Vrancea County 7.5 94.0 Deadliest event of 1977. The 1977 Vrancea earthquake caused major destruction despite being fairly deep. 1,641 people were killed and 10,500 were injured. This was the deadliest earthquake in Romanian history. Bucharest suffered major property damage with costs reaching $2 billion (1977 rate). 1,641 10,500 , northern Sumatra 6.0 22.0 Some damage was caused. , Luzon 7.0 37.0 1 person was killed and another 9 were injured. 14 homes were destroyed and 22 more were damaged. Costs were $100,000 (1977 rate). 1 9 , Hormozgan Province 6.9 29.0 During the 1977 Khurgu earthquake, 167 people were killed and another 556 were injured. Major damage was reported. 167 556 6.3 33.0 6.0 2.0 Aftershock of previous event. , Elazığ Province 5.2 21.0 30 people were killed and major damage was caused. 30 , Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.0 38.0

April

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Hormozgan Province 6.2 29.0 Aftershock of March 21 event. 7.6 33.0 Some damage was reported. , Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province 5.9 41.0 The 1977 Naghan earthquake killed at least 366 people and left a further 200 injured. Some damage was caused. 366 200 , Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 6.7 33.0 Beginning of a series of large and destructive earthquakes in a period of several hours. 12 people died and a further 22 were missing in the first event. Major damage was caused. A mild tsunami was observed. 34 , Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 7.5 19.0 IX Some damage was caused. , Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 7.5 33.0 Suspected injuries and damage were reported. 1+ , Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 6.1 33.0 , Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 7.5 33.0 Final of the mainshocks in the series. A further 18 people were killed and 1 person was injured. Major damage was caused. 18 1 , Solomon Islands 6.0 33.0 Aftershock. , Solomon Islands 6.0 51.0 Aftershock.

May

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , West Azarbaijan Province 5.4 37.0 3 people were killed and 9 were injured. Heavy damage was reported. 3 9 , Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.0 33.0

June

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured 6.8 65.0 1 person was killed and 5 were injured in the 1977 Tonga earthquake. $1.2 million (1977 rate) of property damage was caused. 1 5

July

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Upper Carniola, Slovenia 4.6 6.0 Some damage was caused. , Luzon 6.9 33.0 , Solomon Islands 7.2 33.0

August

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , south of Sumbawa 6.1 33.0 Foreshock of 1977 Sumba earthquake. , south of Sumbawa 8.3 25.0 Largest event of 1977. The 1977 Sumba earthquake caused some damage. A large tsunami led to 189 deaths and 75 injuries. Damage costs of $1.2 million (1977 rate). Many aftershocks followed. 189 75 , east of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands 7.1 33.0 , north of Timor 6.8 25.0 , west of Luzon 6.2 12.0 , Antioquia Department 6.4 33.0 3 people were killed and some damage was caused. 3

September

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Vanuatu 6.5 33.0 , Rat Islands, Alaska 6.4 34.0 First of a series of large events in the area. , Rat Islands, Alaska 6.4 31.0 , Rat Islands, Alaska 6.6 8.0 , southwest of Crete 6.0 33.0 6.0 33.0

October

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , south of 7.2 33.0 , Santiago del Estero Province 6.1 614.0

November

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Pazardzhik Province 5.2 6.0 Some damage was caused. , Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.7 33.0 , Semnan Province 4.9 33.0 Some damage was caused. , western Xizang Province 6.5 33.0 , San Juan Province, Argentina 7.4 13.0 70 people were killed and 300 were injured in the 1977 San Juan earthquake. Extensive property damage was caused with costs of $80 million (1977 rate). 70 300 , La Rioja Province 6.0 33.0 Aftershock. , San Juan Province, Argentina 6.0 33.0 Aftershock. , San Juan Province, Argentina 6.3 23.0 Aftershock.

December

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Kerman Province 5.8 31.0 During the 1977 Bob–Tangol earthquake, 584 people were killed and 1,000 were injured. Major damage was caused. 584 1,000 Red Sea 6.6 33.0

References