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Earthquakes in 1997 class=notpageimage|
Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1997
Strongest magnitude 7.8 Mw Tonga 7.8 Russia Deadliest 7.3 Iran 1,567 Deaths Total fatalities 2,988 9.0+ 0 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 7 6.0−6.9 31
This is a list of earthquakes in 1997 . 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. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale , and all data are sourced from the United States Geological Survey .
By death toll [ ]
Rank
Death toll
Magnitude
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
Event
1
1,567
7.3
Iran , Khorasan
X (Extreme)
10.0
May 10
1997 Qayen earthquake
2
1,100
6.1
Iran , Ardabil
IX (Violent)
10.0
February 28
1997 Ardabil earthquake
3
100
7.1
Pakistan , Harnai
VIII (Severe)
33.0
February 28
1997 Harnai earthquake
4
81
6.7
Venezuela , Sucre
VIII (Severe)
20.0
July 9
1997 Cariaco earthquake
5
38
5.8
India , Madhya Pradesh
VIII (Severe)
38.7
May 22
1997 Jabalpur earthquake
6
23
6.1
Bangladesh , Chittagong
V (Moderate)
54.0
21 November
1997 Chittagong earthquake
7
15
5.0
South Africa , North West Province
VII (Very Strong )
5.0
July 21
-
8
12
5.9
China , Xinjiang
VII (Very Strong )
33.0
January 21
-
9
11
6.0
Italy , Umbria
X (Extreme)
10.0
September 26
1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake
At least 10 dead.
By magnitude [ ]
Rank
Death toll
Magnitude
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
0
7.7
Vanuatu , Torba offshore
VII (Very Strong )
33.0
April 21
2
1,567
7.3
Iran , Qayen
X (Extreme )
10.0
May 10
3
1
7.2
Mexico , Michoacan
VIII (Severe )
33.0
January 11
4
100
7.1
Pakistan , Balochistan
VIII (Severe )
33.0
February 27
4
0
7.1
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands offshore
I (Not Felt )
332.7
May 25
4
0
7.1
Bolivia , Potosi
V (Moderate )
276.2
January 23
7
81
7.0
Venezuela , Sucre
VIII (Severe )
19.9
July 9
At least 7.0 magnitude.
By month [ ]
January [ ]
January Strongest magnitude 7.2 Mw Mexico Deadliest 5.9 Mw China 12 deaths Total fatalities 13 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 2 6.0−6.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
9[1]
Kyrgyzstan , Naryn
5.8
22.2
VII
At least ten homes were destroyed and 400 others damaged.
-
-
11[2]
Mexico , Michoacan
7.2
33.0
VIII
One person was killed and extensive damage occurred in Arteaga .
1
-
12[3]
Albania , Fier
4.8
10.0
VI
More than 70 houses were damaged in Berat District .
-
-
21[4]
China , Xinjiang
5.9
33.0
VII
Twelve people were killed, forty injured and 2,500 families were displaced. About 14,000 homes were destroyed, 17,000 additional homes damaged and 3,360 livestock were killed in Jiashi County .
12
40
22[5]
Turkey , Hatay
5.7
10.0
VII
Five people were injured and ten houses were damaged at Antakya .
-
5
23[6]
Bolivia , Potosí
7.1
276.2
V
-
-
29[7]
Vanuatu , Torba offshore
6.2
33.0
I
-
-
-
February [ ]
February Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Pakistan Deadliest 6.1 Mw Iran 1,100 deaths Total fatalities 1,300 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 1 6.0−6.9 3
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
4[8]
Iran , North Khorasan
6.5
10.0
IX
A hundred people lost their lives in this earthquake, and around 2,000 were injured in the 1997 Bojnurd earthquake . 5,500 houses were destroyed and 11,000 were damaged in Bojnurd .
100
2,000
7[9]
Tonga , Pangai offshore
6.4
28.0
I
-
-
-
27[10]
Pakistan , Balochistan
7.1
33.0
VIII
100 people died in the 1997 Harnai earthquake . Hundreds of others were injured and 500 homes were destroyed.
100
300+
28[11]
Iran , Ardabil
6.1
10.0
IX
1,100 people were killed, 2,600 were injured and 12,000 houses were destroyed in the 1997 Ardabil earthquake .
1,100
2,600
March [ ]
March Strongest magnitude 6.9 Mw Philippines Deadliest 5.6 Mw China 2 deaths Total fatalities 2 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 0 6.0−6.9 4
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1[12]
China , Xinjiang
5.6
22.4
VII
Two people were killed, six injured, 4,000 houses were destroyed and 738 livestock were killed in Jiashi County .
2
6
4[13]
Japan , Shizuoka
5.6
10.0
VI
Three people were injured in Itō .
-
3
4[14]
Pakistan , Balochistan
5.7
33.0
VI
One person was injured and damage occurred in Sibi .
-
1
6[15]
Ghana , Accra
4.4
10.0
VI
Seven people were injured and power outages occurred in Accra .
-
7
11[16]
Philippines , Mindanao offshore
6.9
10.0
V
Some damage occurred in Cagayan de Oro .
-
-
17[17]
Indonesia , Banten offshore
6.4
33.0
VI
Some minor damage occurred in Jakarta .
-
-
26[18]
United States , Alaska , Rat Islands offshore
6.7
33.0
IV
-
-
-
26[19]
Lebanon , Beirut
5.0
10.0
VII
Fifty buildings were damaged in Beirut .
-
-
26[20]
Brazil , Acre
6.1
602.6
I
-
-
-
26[21]
Japan , Kyushu
6.1
10.0
IX
22 people were injured and many houses were damaged in Kagoshima Prefecture .
-
22
April [ ]
April Strongest magnitude 7.7 Mw Vanuatu Deadliest 6.2 Mw China 9 deaths Total fatalities 9 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 1 6.0−6.9 10
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1[22]
Panama , south of
6.1
33.0
V
-
-
-
1[23]
Chile , Tarapaca Region
6.2
113.8
V
Landslides and power outages occurred near the epicenter. This pair of earthquakes occurring only minutes apart can be considered a doublet earthquake .
-
-
1[24]
Chile , Tarapaca Region
6.2
115.6
V
2[25]
Trinidad and Tobago , Tobago offshore
6.1
45.0
V
It is a foreshock of the 6.7 quake on April 22. Slight damage was observed.
-
-
5[26]
Papua New Guinea , Morobe
6.5
69.1
VI
-
-
-
6[27]
China , Xinjiang
6.0
33.0
VI
It is a foreshock of the 6.2 quake 5 days later.
-
-
11[28]
China , Xinjiang
6.2
15.0
VII
It is a largest of an earthquake swarm that started in January 21. At least 9 people were killed, 89 injured, 100,000 homeless, thousands of buildings were destroyed and 11,000 livestock killed in Jiashi County .
9
89
21[29]
Vanuatu , Sola offshore
7.7
33.0
VII
A tsunami with a height of 3 m (9.8 ft) caused some damage to houses in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands . On Funafuti , Tuvalu , and Suva , Fiji , a smaller tsunami was observed.
-
-
22[30]
Trinidad and Tobago , Tobago offshore
6.7
5.0
VII
Three houses were destroyed and two people were injured.
-
2
23[31]
Iran , Fars
4.8
33.0
IV
Some houses were damaged in the epicentral area.
-
-
23[32]
Guam offshore
6.5
100.5
VII
Four people suffered injuries and some damage occurred on Guam .
-
4
28[33]
South Africa , Prince Edward Islands offshore
6.8
10.0
I
-
-
-
May [ ]
May Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Iran Deadliest 7.3 Mw Iran 1,567 deaths Total fatalities 1,608 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 2 6.0−6.9 7
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1[34]
Mexico , Jalisco offshore
6.9
33.0
I
-
-
-
3[35]
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands offshore
6.9
108.3
I
-
-
-
8[36]
India , Manipur
6.0
34.9
VII
Several people were injured and some damage occurred in Sylhet , Bangladesh .
-
Several
10[37]
Iran , Qayen
7.3
10.0
X
The 1997 Qayen earthquake . caused severe damage throughout eastern Iran . 1,567 people were killed and 2,300 injured, including five in Afghanistan . However, this figure may be as high as 2,394.
1,567
2,300
11[38]
West Chile Rise
6.5
10.0
I
-
-
-
13[39]
Japan , Kyushu
6.1
33.0
VIII
34 people were injured and five houses were destroyed in Kyushu .
-
34
13[40]
Iran , Qayen
4.5
10.0
V
It was an aftershock of the 7.3 earthquake on May 10, One person was killed and further damage was caused.
1
-
13[41]
Afghanistan , Hindu Kush region
6.5
196.0
IV
One person was injured in Kabul . Another was killed and eleven others injured in Peshawar , Pakistan .
1
12
17[42]
China , Xinjiang
4.9
33.0
IV
One person was injured in Jiashi County .
-
1
21[43]
Vanuatu , Isangel offshore
6.8
57.0
VI
-
-
-
21[44]
India , Madhya Pradesh
5.8
36.0
VIII
The 1997 Jabalpur earthquake caused major damage, killing 38 and injuring a thousand others.
38
1,000
21[45]
Spain , Galicia
5.4
18.8
VII
One person died of a heart attack and minor damage was caused in Galicia.
1
-
22[46]
Mexico , Michoacan
6.5
70.0
VI
Many houses were damaged at Arteaga and a church were damaged at Patzcuaro , Michoacan.
-
-
22[47]
Philippines , Babuyan Islands offshore
6.1
33.9
VI
-
-
-
25[48]
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands offshore
7.1
332.7
I
-
-
-
June [ ]
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
10[49]
Southern East Pacific Rise
6.5
10.0
I
-
-
-
12[50]
Papua New Guinea , Lae
6.1
33.0
VI
-
-
-
17[51]
United States , Alaska , Aleutian Islands offshore
6.4
33.0
IV
-
-
-
17[52]
Argentina , Santiago del Estero
5.6
28.2
VI
Minor damage occurred in Tucuman Province .
-
-
20[53]
Iran , Qayen
5.6
10.0
VII
These earthquakes destroyed 160 homes and damaged 5,000 others in Qayen.
-
-
25[54]
5.9
10.0
VII
25[55]
Japan , Yamaguchi
5.9
10.0
VII
One person was injured in Yamaguchi Prefecture. A landslide occurred in Masuda .
-
1
30[56]
United States , Hawaii
5.1
8.5
VIII
Slight damage was caused and power outages occurred in Hilo .
-
-
July [ ]
June Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw Venezuela Deadliest 7.0 Mw Venezuela 81 deaths Total fatalities 96 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 1 6.0−6.9 4
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
6[57]
Chile , Coquimbo offshore
6.8
19.0
VI
-
-
-
6[58]
Honduras , Cortes offshore
6.1
33.0
VI
-
-
-
9[59]
Venezuela , Sucre
7.0
19.9
VIII
81 people were killed and 683 injured in the 1997 Cariaco earthquake . Extensive damage and landslides occurred.
81
683
11[60]
Indonesia , Java offshore
6.0
574.4
I
-
-
-
14[61]
Japan , Hokkaido offshore
6.1
33.0
V
-
-
-
18[62]
Azerbaijan , Ganja Qazakh
4.2
33.0
III
5,000 houses were damaged in Noyemberyan , Armenia .
-
-
19[63]
Mexico , Oaxaca
6.9
33.0
VII
-
-
-
21[64]
South Africa , North West Province
5.0
5.0
VII
Fifteen people were killed and 46 were injured due to a mine collapse near Stilfontein .
15
46
August [ ]
August Strongest magnitude 6.6 Mw Papua New Guinea Total fatalities 0 8.0−8.9 0 7.0−7.9 0 6.0−6.9 11
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
8[65]
Turkey , Erzurum
4.5
10.0
V
One person was injured and seven houses were destroyed in Koprukoy .
-
1
10[66]
Australia , Western Australia
6.3
10.0
VIII
-
-
-
20[67]
Indonesia , Aceh
6.0
33.0
VI
Several hundred houses were destroyed in Aceh.
-
-
List [ ]
1997 Jiashi earthquakes (M5.9, Jan 21)
1997 Harnai earthquake (M7.0, Feb 27)
1997 Ardabil earthquake (M6.1, Feb 28)
1997 Qayen earthquake (M7.3, May 10)
1997 Jabalpur earthquake (M5.8, May 22)
1997 Cariaco earthquake (M6.9, Jul 9)
1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake (M6.2, Sep 26)
1997 Punitaqui earthquake (M7.1, Oct 14)
1997 Manyi earthquake (M7.4, Nov 8)
1997 Chittagong earthquake (M6.1, Nov 21)
1997 Kamchatka earthquake (M7.7, Dec 5)
Date
Time
Place
Lat.
Long.
Deaths
Magnitude
Comments
Sources
Main articale
February 28, 1997
12:57 UTC
Ardabil , Iran
38.08
48.05
1,100
6.1
Mw
USGS
1997 Ardabil earthquake
May 10, 1997
07:57 UTC
South Khorasan , Iran
33.844
59.810
1,567
7.3
Mw
USGS
1997 Qayen earthquake
May 22, 1997
22:51
Madhya Pradesh , India
-23.1
80.14
56
5.8
Mw
USGS
1997 Jabalpur earthquake
July 9, 1997
19:24
Cariaco , Venezuela
-10.45
63.58
81
6.9
Mw
USGS
1997 Cariaco earthquake
August 10, 1997
Collier Bay , Western Australia, Australia
6.3
Mw
USGS
September 26, 1997
09:40 UTC
Umbria –Marche , Italy
43.084
12.812
11
6.1
Me
USGS
1997 Umbria and Marche earthquake
October 15, 1997
01:03 UTC
Punitaqui , Chile
30.93
71.22
8
7.1
Me
USGS
1997 Punitaqui earthquake
November 8, 1997
10:02 UTC
Tibet
35.069
87.325
7.4
Mw
USGS
1997 Manyi earthquake
References [ ]
^ "M 5.8 - Kyrgyzstan" .
^ "M 7.2 - 46 km WNW of El Habillal, Mexico" .
^ "M 4.8 - 3 km WNW of Lushnjë, Albania" .
^ "M 5.9 - 86 km E of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 5.7 - 11 km WNW of Toygarl?, Turkey" .
^ "M 7.1 - 16 km NW of Villazón, Bolivia" .
^ "M 6.2 - 166 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.5 - Turkmenistan-Iran border region" .
^ "M 6.4 - 111 km E of Pangai, Tonga" .
^ "M 7.1 - 29 km ESE of Harnai, Pakistan" .
^ "M 6.1 - 24 km SSW of Om?dcheh, Iran" .
^ "M 5.6 - 73 km E of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 5.6 - 9 km SSW of Ito, Japan" .
^ "M 5.7 - 55 km NW of Dera Bugti, Pakistan" .
^ "M 4.4 - 6 km S of Gbawe, Ghana" .
^ "M 6.9 - 121 km E of Kinablangan, Philippines" .
^ "M 6.4 - 43 km SW of Labuan, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.7 - 273 km WSW of Adak, Alaska" .
^ "M 5.0 - 3 km WNW of Nabatîyé et Tahta, Lebanon" .
^ "M 6.1 - 115 km SSW of Tarauaca, Brazil" .
^ "M 6.1 - 16 km NE of Satsumasendai, Japan" .
^ "M 6.1 - 53 km SSW of Boca Chica, Panama" .
^ "M 6.2 - 73 km SE of Palca, Peru" .
^ "M 6.2 - 90 km SE of Palca, Peru" .
^ "M 6.1 - 33 km NW of Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago" .
^ "M 6.5 - 49 km W of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.0 - 87 km E of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 6.2 - 82 km E of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 7.7 - 171 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.7 - 18 km WSW of Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago" .
^ "M 4.8 - 60 km SSE of F?r?z?b?d, Iran" .
^ "M 6.5 - 49 km N of Yigo Village, Guam" .
^ "M 6.8 - Prince Edward Islands region" .
^ "M 6.9 - 228 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico" .
^ "M 6.9 - Kermadec Islands region" .
^ "M 6.0 - 11 km WNW of Kar?mganj, India" .
^ "M 7.3 - 58 km E of Qayen, Iran" .
^ "M 6.5 - West Chile Rise" .
^ "M 6.1 - 1 km WNW of Satsumasendai, Japan" .
^ "M 4.5 - 71 km ESE of Qayen, Iran" .
^ "M 6.5 - 51 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan" .
^ "M 4.9 - 84 km E of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 6.8 - 99 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu" .
^ "M 5.8 - 1 km SSW of Barela, India" .
^ "M 5.4 - 3 km NW of Becerreá, Spain" .
^ "M 6.5 - 5 km ENE of Churumuco de Morelos, Mexico" .
^ "M 6.1 - 38 km NNE of Namuac, Philippines" .
^ "M 7.1 - south of the Kermadec Islands" .
^ "M 6.5 - southern East Pacific Rise" .
^ "M 6.1 - 85 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.4 - 195 km WSW of Adak, Alaska" .
^ "M 5.6 - 29 km SSE of Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina" .
^ "M 5.6 - 90 km SE of B?rjand, Iran" .
^ "M 5.9 - 35 km NE of Q?'en, Iran" .
^ "M 5.9 - 17 km E of Hagi, Japan" .
^ "M 5.1 - 14 km SSE of Fern Forest, Hawaii" .
^ "M 6.8 - 52 km WSW of Coquimbo, Chile" .
^ "M 6.1 - 30 km NNW of Baja Mar, Honduras" .
^ "M 7.0 - 26 km WSW of Carúpano, Venezuela" .
^ "M 6.0 - 87 km N of Batang, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.1 - 65 km E of Nemuro, Japan" .
^ "M 4.2 - 6 km ESE of Voskevan, Armenia" .
^ "M 6.9 - 4 km ENE of El Ciruelo, Mexico" .
^ "M 5.0 - 4 km W of Klerksdorp, South Africa" .
^ "M 4.5 - 24 km WNW of Karayaz?, Turkey" .
^ "M 6.3 - 161 km NNE of Derby, Australia" .
^ "M 6.0 - 47 km ENE of Meulaboh, Indonesia" .
Jiashi (5.9, Jan 21)
Bojnurd (6.5, Feb 4) †
Harnai (7.0, Feb 27) †
Ardabil (6.1, Feb 28) †
Qayen (7.3, May 10) † ‡
Jabalpur (5.8, May 22) †
Cariaco (6.9, Jul 9) †
Umbria-Marche (6.2, Sep 26)
Punitaqui (7.1, Oct 14)
Tibet (7.4, Nov 8)
Bangladesh-India-Myanmar (6.1, Nov 21)
Kamchatka (7.7, Dec 5)
† indicates earthquake resulting in at least 30 deaths ‡ indicates the deadliest earthquake of the year