List of earthquakes in 1957
This is a list of earthquakes in 1957. 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. An extremely active year in a large way helped by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake in Alaska in March. This event was one of the largest on record in the United States and was followed by an energetic aftershock sequence which resulted in 6 aftershocks measuring greater than magnitude 7.0. Other parts of the world such as Mongolia, Bolivia and Turkey to name a few saw large events. Turkey and Iran had several earthquakes with high death tolls.
Overall
By death toll
Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | Depth | Date |
1 | Hamadan Province, Iran | ||||
2 | Mazandaran Province, Iran | ||||
3 | 500 | Duzce Province, Turkey | |||
4 | 101 | Fars Province, Iran | |||
5 | 65 | Guerrero, Mexico | |||
6 | 30 | Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia | |||
7 | 18 | off the coast of Mugla Province, Turkey | |||
8 | 13 | Kef Governorate, Tunisia | |||
9 | 11 | Hualien City, Taiwan |
- Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | Depth | Date |
1 | 2 | Andreanof Islands, Alaska | |||
2 | 30 | Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia | |||
3 | 0 | Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | |||
4 | 0 | Potosi Department, Bolivia | |||
5 | 65 | Guerrero, Mexico | |||
5 | 0 | eastern Kamchatka, Russia | |||
6 | 0 | Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia | |||
6 | 0 | Fiji | |||
7 | 18 | off the coast of Mugla Province, Turkey | |||
8 | 0 | Andreanof Islands, Alaska | |||
8 | 0 | southeast of Mindanao, Philippines | |||
8 | 0 | Sea of Okhotsk | |||
9 | 0 | Fox Islands | |||
9 | 0 | Andreanof Islands, Alaska | |||
9 | 0 | Andreanof Islands, Alaska | |||
9 | 0 | Fox Islands | |||
9 | 0 | Banda Sea, Indonesia | |||
9 | 0 | Tonga | |||
9 | 0 | off the coast of Mugla Province, Turkey | |||
9 | 500 | Duzce Province, Turkey | |||
9 | 0 | eastern Yapen, Indonesia | |||
10 | 0 | Andreanof Islands, Alaska | |||
10 | 0 | south of Kodiak Island, Alaska | |||
10 | 0 | Kermadec Islands, New Zealand |
- Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Fox Islands on January 2 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series to strike the area at this time.
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Fox Islands on January 2 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series to strike the area at this time.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Fox Islands on January 2 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series to strike the area at this time.
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Fox Islands on January 2 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series to strike the area at this time.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Fox Islands on January 2 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series to strike the area at this time.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Fox Islands on January 2 at a depth of 25.0 km. This was part of a series to strike the area at this time.
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Heilongjiang Province, China on January 3 at a depth of 581.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Honshu, Japan on January 17 at a depth of 357.6 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Fiji on January 19 at a depth of 622.9 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru on January 24 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on January 25 at a depth of 45.0 km.
February
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck eastern Kamchatka, Russia on February 3 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Selenge Province, Mongolia on February 6 at a depth of 10.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck northeast of Mindanao, Philippines on February 10 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series affecting the area.
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck northeast of Mindanao, Philippines on February 10 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series affecting the area.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck northeast of Mindanao, Philippines on February 11 at a depth of 20.0 km. This was part of a series affecting the area.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck northeast of Mindanao, Philippines on February 11 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was part of a series affecting the area.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck northeast of Mindanao, Philippines on February 13 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was part of a series affecting the area.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the coast of central Peru on February 18 at a depth of 77.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck south of Greece on February 19 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Kef Governorate, Tunisia on February 20 at a depth of 15.0 km. 13 people were killed and 96 more were injured. Some damage was caused.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the Fox Islands on February 21 at a depth of 104.1 km.
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Hualien City, Taiwan on February 23 at a depth of 55.0 km. 11 people were killed and at least 101 were hurt. Some damage was also reported.
March
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica on March 2 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea on March 2 at a depth of 23.2 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Thessaly, Greece on March 8 at a depth of 10.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Thessaly, Greece on March 8 at a depth of 10.0 km. This was seven minutes after the previous event and is an example of a doublet earthquake. 2 deaths were caused as well as injuries to at least 101 people. Some damage was reported.
- A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck Thessaly, Greece on March 8 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck the Andreanof Islands, Alaska on March 9 at a depth of 25.0 km. This was one of the largest earthquakes of the 20th Century and was followed by a robust aftershock sequence. The earthquake itself caused fairly minor damage. A tsunami which was generated resulted in 2 deaths and 1 injury. Some homes were destroyed and major damage was caused on Hawaii. Damage costs were at least $5 million.
- Due to the many aftershocks of the 1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake a table will list events above magnitude 6.5 through to the end of 1957. This table can be found at the end of the article.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia on March 11 at a depth of 35.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Manawatū-Whanganui, North Island, New Zealand on March 13 at a depth of 270.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico on March 21 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off the coast of San Francisco, California on March 22 at a depth of 15.0 km. 1 person was killed and around 40 were hurt. Some damage was caused. $1 million property damage was reported.
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia on March 23 at a depth of 127.2 km.
April
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Alaska Peninsula on April 4 at a depth of 100.3 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of Fiji on April 5 at a depth of 92.1 km.
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia on April 7 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Chiriqui Province, Panama on April 8 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck south of Honshu, Japan on April 9 at a depth of 453.3 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Oaxaca, Mexico on April 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck south of Kodiak Island, Alaska on April 10 at a depth of 15.0 km. This was to the east of the aftershock sequence of the magnitude 8.6 event which hit the Andreanof Islands.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck south of Mindanao, Philippines on April 13 at a depth of 75.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Free State, South Africa on April 13 at an unknown depth.
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck western Xizang Province, China on April 14 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Tonga on April 14 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Java Sea, Indonesia on April 16 at a depth of 596.3 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the east coast of mainland Papua New Guinea on April 20 at a depth of 35.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Boyaca Department, Colombia on April 21 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck western Xizang Province, China on April 22 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the coast of Mugla Province, Turkey on April 24 at a depth of 35.0 km. Some damage was reported.
- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Mugla Province, Turkey on April 25 at a depth of 35.0 km. This came a few hours after the previous event and is an example of a doublet earthquake. 18 people were killed.
- A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the coast of Mugla Province, Turkey on April 26 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck east of Mindanao, Philippines on April 28 at a depth of 50.0 km.
May
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Papua, Indonesia on May 4 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia on May 24 at a depth of 52.3 km.
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Duzce Province, Turkey on May 26 at a depth of 25.0 km. 500 deaths were reported as well as major damage.
- A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck Sakarya Province, Turkey on May 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Tonga on May 30 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Santiago del Estero Province, Argentina on May 31 at a depth of 572.9 km.
June
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Fiji on June 4 at a depth of 589.2 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Sumbawa, Indonesia on June 10 at a depth of 132.8 km.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck west of Guam on June 10 at a depth of 133.8 km.
- A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Shanxi Province, China on June 10 at an unknown depth. A few homes were destroyed.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on June 11 at a depth of 62.5 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines on June 11 at a depth of 45.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on June 17 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico on June 22 at a depth of 80.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck eastern Yapen, Indonesia on June 22 at a depth of 59.1 km. Major damage was caused.
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia on June 27 at a depth of 25.0 km. Some damage was caused.
July
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Manipur, India on July 1 at a depth of 65.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Mazandaran Province, Iran on July 2 at a depth of 15.0 km. 1,100 deaths were caused and major damage was reported.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of southern Sumatra, Indonesia on July 4 at a depth of 65.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck southern Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on July 7 at a depth of 40.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Suchitepequez Department, Guatemala on July 8 at a depth of 115.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Sunda Strait, Indonesia on July 9 at a depth of 39.9 km.
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck south of Panama on July 10 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on July 14 at a depth of 204.1 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on July 14 at a depth of 50.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on July 14 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on July 17 at a depth of 119.8 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on July 19 at a depth of 105.7 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Coquimbo Region, Chile on July 24 at a depth of 50.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Vanuatu on July 24 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on July 28 at a depth of 37.8 km. 65 people were killed and at least 101 were hurt. Many homes were destroyed. Property damage costs were at least $25 million.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Antofagasta Region, Chile on July 29 at a depth of 15.0 km.
August
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua New Guinea on August 4 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the north coast of Papua, Indonesia on August 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Vanuatu on August 11 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck east of Masbate Island, Philippines on August 18 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the coast of Guerrero, Mexico on August 18 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on August 18 at a depth of 57.4 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on August 20 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on August 20 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on August 21 at a depth of 100.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck off the west coast of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on August 23 at a depth of 87.7 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Taiwan on August 23 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Santa Cruz Department on August 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador on August 26 at a depth of 15.0 km.
September
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on September 2 at a depth of 211.8 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Balochistan, Pakistan on September 4 at an unknown depth.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Manica Province, Mozambique on September 5 at an unknown depth.
- A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Fars Province, Iran on September 5 at a depth of 25.0 km. At least 101 people were killed and major damage was caused.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck north of Honduras on September 12 at a depth of 21.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck southeast of Mindanao, Philippines on September 24 at a depth of 35.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Cook Strait, New Zealand on September 26 at a depth of 128.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck south of Honshu, Japan on September 28 at a depth of 461.4 km.
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Fiji on September 28 at a depth of 586.6 km.
October
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Sucre, Venezuela on October 4 at a depth of 23.3 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 aftershock struck off the coast of Sucre, Venezuela on October 6 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck south of Java, Indonesia on October 12 at a depth of 50.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Hualien County, Taiwan on October 19 at a depth of 30.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck northeast of Hokkaido, Japan on October 19 at a depth of 153.8 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Gulf of California, Mexico on October 24 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on October 25 at a depth of 50.1 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck East Kalimantan, Indonesia on October 26 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck eastern Kamchatka, Russia on October 27 at a depth of 147.8 km.
November
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Vanuatu on November 2 at a depth of 85.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on November 10 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea on November 10 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck off the south coast of Honshu, Japan on November 10 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand on November 13 at a depth of 30.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck western Mindanao, Philippines on November 15 at a depth of 80.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck just off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on November 15 at a depth of 75.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Sea of Okhotsk on November 17 at a depth of 355.9 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck East Kalimantan, Indonesia on November 25 at a depth of 20.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck East Kalimantan, Indonesia on November 26 at a depth of 45.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Potosi Department, Bolivia on November 29 at a depth of 232.5 km. Some damage was caused.
December
- A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Bayankhongor Province, Mongolia on December 4 at a depth of 30.0 km. 30 people were killed and some damage was caused.
- A magnitude 6.1 aftershock struck Ovorkhangai Province, Mongolia on December 4 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the west coast of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea on December 10 at a depth of 25.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Antioquia Department, Colombia on December 13 at a depth of 52.6 km.
- A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Hamadan Province, Iran on December 13 at a depth of 15.0 km. 1,200 deaths and major damage were caused.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada on December 16 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia on December 17 at a depth of 26.0 km.
- A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands on December 17 at a depth of 123.6 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Gulf of Paria, Venezuela on December 25 at a depth of 15.0 km.
- A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Santa Cruz Department on December 28 at a depth of 15.0 km.
Aleutian Islands aftershock table
Date | Time | Location | Depth | Magnitude | |
1957-03-09 | 20:39:22 | Fox Islands | 6.9 | ||
1957-03-10 | 03:06:17 | Andreanof Islands | 6.6 | ||
1957-03-10 | 15:26:28 | Andreanof Islands | 6.5 | ||
1957-03-11 | 03:12:48 | Andreanof Islands | 6.8 | ||
1957-03-11 | 09:58:52 | Fox Islands | 7.1 | ||
1957-03-11 | 14:55:24 | Andreanof Islands | 7.0 | ||
1957-03-11 | 15:36:01 | Andreanof Islands | 6.5 | ||
1957-03-12 | 07:28:54 | Andreanof Islands | 6.5 | ||
1957-03-12 | 11:45:00 | Andreanof Islands | 7.1 | ||
1957-03-13 | 15:42:11 | Andreanof Islands | 6.6 | ||
1957-03-14 | 14:47:50 | Andreanof Islands | 7.1 | ||
1957-03-16 | 02:34:18 | Andreanof Islands | 7.2 | ||
1957-03-19 | 12:50:59 | Andreanof Islands | 6.8 | ||
1957-03-22 | 14:21:15 | Fox Islands | 7.1 | ||
1957-03-29 | 05:10:33 | Fox Islands | 6.8 | ||
1957-04-19 | 22:19:32 | Fox Islands | 6.5 | ||
1957-06-13 | 10:40:44 | Andreanof Islands | 6.8 |