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.

By death toll Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , Hebei Province 2 , Izabal Department 3 , Mindanao 4 , Papua (province) 5 , Van Province 6 Italy, Fruili Venezia Giulia 7 , Bali 8 , Papua (province) = 9 , Yunnan = 9 , Yunnan = 9 , Hebei Province 10 , Balkh Province 11 , South Khorasan province 12 Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 13 , Esmeraldas Province Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.

By magnitude Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date = 1 , Kermadec Islands = 1 , Mindanao = 2 , Izabel Department = 2 , Hebei Province 3 , Hebei Province 4 , Van Province = 5 , Papua (province) = 5 , Papua (province) = 6 , Kuril Islands, Russia = 6 , Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan = 6 , Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan = 6 , Yunnan = 6 , Sumatra = 6 Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.

By month

January

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Kermadec Islands 7.3 42.5 , Kamchatka Krai 6.1 35.0 , Kamchatka Krai 6.3 29.1 , Kamchatka Krai 6.4 30.6 6.3 172.1 , Northeastern Region, ENE of Norðurþing 6.4 10.0 Some buildings damaged at Kópasker and three homes evacuated. Several bridges also damaged in the area. , Kermadec Islands 7.8 45.0 Some damage reported. , Kermadec Islands 7.9 45.0 Tsunami reported and some damage on Raoul Island. , Kermadec Islands 6.2 25.0 , Kermadec Islands 6.4 25.0 , Kermadec Islands 6.1 25.0 , Svalbard and Jan Mayen 6.3 15.0 , Kuril Islands 7.2 41.3 , Kamchatka Krai 6.3 27.5 , Kuril Islands 6.1 35.9 , East Nusa Tenggara 6.7 614.1 , Kermadec Islands 6.2 60.0 , Kuril Islands 6.5 34.7 , Kermadec Islands 6.1 20.0

February

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Izabal north of Los Amates 7.5 5.0 23,000 76,000 , Madang Province 6.0 37.0 , northeast of Samar 6.1 33.0

March

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Indonesia, north of Flores 6.0 30.0 , Vanuatu 6.4 90.0 United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands 6.1 47.0 Papua New Guinea, west of Bougainville Island 6.1 50.0 Guatemala, Chimaltenango Department 5.9 10.0 Aftershock of February 4 event; 4 people were killed and 50 were injured. 4 50 Afghanistan, Balkh Province 5.9 20.0 At least 49 people dead, 59 injured and 20,000 homeless. More than 1,130 homes destroyed, 559 damaged and rockslides in the Kholm and Tashkurgan area. 49 59 New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 7.0 50.0 Aftershock of January 14 event. Turkey, Ardahan Province 5.2 15.0 Two people were killed and 6 were injured. Some damage was reported. 2 6

April

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Papua New Guinea, north of New Britain 6.4 21.0 Soviet Union, Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan 7.0 33.0 Doublet earthquake along with later event on May 17. Major damage was reported. Soviet Union, Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan 6.2 33.0 Aftershock. Ecuador, Esmeraldas Province 6.7 9.0 10 people died and property damages were around $4 million (1976 rate). 10 Papua New Guinea, west of Bougainville Island 6.0 54.0 Iran, Fars province 6.0 24.0 Turkey, Ardahan Province 5.5 44.0 4 people were killed and some damage was caused. 4

May

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured New Zealand, South Island 6.6 19.0 New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 6.8 35.0 Aftershock of January 14 event. Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 6.5 9.0 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 Greece, Ionian Sea 6.4 33.0 Peru, Junin Region 6.6 33.0 Soviet Union, Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan 7.0 10.0 Doublet earthquake along with event on April 8. Property damage costs were $85 million (1976 rate). China, Yunnan 6.9 8.0 rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. At least 101 people were killed and major damage was caused. 101 China, Yunnan 7.0 10.0 China, Yunnan 6.2 14.0 Aftershock.

June

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Papua New Guinea, southeast of New Ireland (island) 6.2 88.0 United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.2 61.0 Philippines, east of Catanduanes 6.4 33.0 Mexico, Guerrero 6.4 45.0 Some damage was caused. Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 6.1 24.0 Aftershock of May 6 event. Indonesia, off the west coast of northern Sumatra 7.0 33.0 Indonesia, Papua (province) 7.1 33.0 The 1976 Papua earthquake caused in total 6,000 deaths. Major damage was caused. 6,000 Indonesia, Talaud Islands 6.5 33.0

July

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Panama, off the south coast 6.7 22.0 Foreshock. Some damage was caused. Panama, off the south coast 7.0 3.0 5 people were killed and 7 were injured. Further damage was reported. 5 7 Indonesia, Bali 6.5 40.0 The 1976 Bali earthquake caused 573 deaths. Another 4,755 people were injured. Damage costs were $195 million (1976 rate). 573 4,755 Papua New Guinea, New Ireland (island) 6.6 53.0 China, Yunnan 6.3 9.0 Aftershock of May 29 event. Malaysia, Sabah 6.2 33.0 The 1976 Sabah earthquake resulted in some damage. China, Hebei 7.5 23.0 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 China, Hebei 7.4 26.0 Aftershock resulted in at least 101 more deaths. Many homes collapsed. 101 , Vanuatu 6.0 5.0 Soviet Union, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Tajikistan 6.1 50.0 Soviet Union, Chechnya, Russia 6.1 21.0

August

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Vanuatu 6.9 52.0 Burma, Kachin State 6.4 27.0 China, Sichuan 6.9 16.0 1976 Songpan-Pingwu earthquake. Philippines, off the south coast of Mindanao 8.0 33.0 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 Philippines, off the northeast coast of Mindanao 6.0 34.0 Philippines, off the south coast of Mindanao 6.8 22.0 The strong aftershock caused at least 1 additional death and further damage. 1 Turkey, Denizli Province 5.0 3.0 4 people were killed and 50 injured. 1,800 homes were damaged. 4 50 China, Sichuan 6.4 33.0 Aftershock of August 16 event. China, Sichuan 6.7 33.0 Aftershock of August 16 event.

September

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 5.5 16.0 Aftershock of May 6 event. 5 people died and at least 51 were injured. Some damage was caused. 5 51 Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 6.0 10.0 Aftershock of May 6 event. Another 11 people were killed and at least 51 were injured. Some damage was caused. 11 51 Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 5.9 17.0 Aftershock of May 6 event. At least 51 people were injured and further damage was reported. 51 Philippines, Mindanao 6.0 41.0 Aftershock of August 16 event. New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 6.5 32.0

October

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.0 106.0 , Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic 4.5 33.0 The Osmussaar earthquake is the largest ever recorded in Estonia. Some damage was caused. Indonesia, Papua (province) 7.1 33.0 133 deaths were caused. Some homes sustained damage. 133

November

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured China, Sichuan 6.5 33.0 Iran, South Khorasan province 6.2 13.0 17 people were killed and major damage was caused. 17 Philippines, Mindanao 6.8 60.0 Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 6.0 38.0 China, Tianjin 6.3 15.0 Aftershock of July 27 event. United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.5 33.0 Indonesia, Papua (province) 6.3 33.0 Philippines, off the south coast of Mindanao 6.0 60.0 Aftershock of August 16 event. Turkey, Van Province 7.3 36.0 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 United States, off the coast of northern California 6.3 41.8 Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province 6.1 190.0 Some damage was reported. Chile, Tarapaca Region 6.5 82.0 1 person died with a further 13 injured. Some damage was reported. 1 13

December

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured South Africa, Orange Free State (province) 5.2 33.0 4 people died and another 36 sustained injuries. Some damage was caused. 4 36 Canada, west of Vancouver Island 6.7 10.0

References