Chronology of Earthquakes and Volcanos (1970-1979)

Chronology of Earthquakes and Volcanos

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2023 December 20.

1970

January 4

In Tonghai, Yunnan Province, China, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. 10,000 deaths. The quake was felt at Hanoi, Vietnam. [53]
January 20

In Hokkaido, Japan, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. One person killed, 38 injured. [53]
February 5

In central Philippines (Romblon Island), a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs. Widespread damage and three deaths. [53]
February 10

Dry powder avalanche moving at 120 mph smashes into youth hostel killing 40 Belgian, French, and German youths (Val d'Isere, France). [1]
February 24

29 Swiss Army officers die in avalanche (Reckingen, Switzerland). [1]
March 28

In Gediz, Turkey, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. Over 1,000 killed, more than 12,000 houses destroyed or severely damaged in the Gediz-Emet area of Kutahya Province. Over 50 percent of the buildings were damaged in 53 villages in the area. Strong aftershocks cause considerable additional damage. [1] [53]

April 7

In Philippine Islands, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 16

70 die in an avalanche (France). [1]
May 14

In the eastern Caucasus, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs, a few miles west of Machackala on the Caspian Sea. Extensive damage in the Dagestan Republic. [53]
May 31

In Chimbote, Peru, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. About 50,000 people were killed; 20,000 missing and presumed dead; and 150,000 injured in Ancash and La Libertad Catastrophic debris avalanche of rock, ice and mud buries the town of Yungay, which had a population of about 20,000. [1] [53]
July 2

Near Sivas, Turkey, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 25

In Kyushu, Japan, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 30

In northeast Iran, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs, killing 176, injuring 483, and leaving an estimated 10,000 homeless. Extensively damaged villages included Qapan, Shahabad, Maraveh Tappeh, Gonbad-e Kavus, Bojnurd, and Sabzevar. [53]
July 31

In Colombia, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
September 30

In the Philippine Islands, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. [53]
October 31

In New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
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December 10

In the Peru-Ecuador border region, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs. 72 people killed. [53]

1971

February 6

In Central Italy, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurs, near Tuscania, Italy. 20 dead, over 100 injured, and about 5,000 homeless. The medieval section of Tuscania is practically leveled, and 60 percent of the city's buildings destroyed. [53]
February 9

In San Fernando, California, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs. The earthquake lasts about 60 seconds, kills 65, injures more than 2,000, and causes property damage estimated at $505 million. [1] [53]
March 18

200 die in landslide into Lake Yanahuani, Chungar, Peru. [1]
April 5

Mount Etna erupts in Sicily, Italy. [1]
May 2

In the Andreanof Islands, Alaska, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 12

In Western Turkey, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs, 220 miles southwest of Anakara in the Burdur area. 100 persons killed, thousands of buildings damaged or destroyed. [53]
May 22

In Eastern Turkey, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs, 410 miles southeast of Ankara. The city of Bingol is nearly destroyed. 1000 people killed, 90 percent of Bingol's structures destroyed, and 15,000 of its inhabitants are made homeless. [53]
July 9

In Chile, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs, 75 miles northwest of Santiago. 84 people are killed, 447 injured, and 40,000 made homeless. [53]

1972

January 25

In Taiwan, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
February 4

In Central Italy, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurs, among a series of hundreds of relatively minor shocks near the Italian town of Ancona on the Adriatic coast. [53]
February 29

South of Honshu, Japan, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 20

Nineteen mountain climbers killed on Japan's Mount Fuji during an avalanche. [1]
April 10

In the Fars Province of southern Iran, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. Over 5,000 killed, 1,700 injured. [1] [53]
July 30

In Sitka, Alaska, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs. The Fairvolcano fault ruptures over a length of 75 kilometers. [53]
August 17

In the New Britain region, Papua New Guinea, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
September 3

In Northwestern Kashmir, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs. Over 100 killed, over 1,000 homes destroyed. [53]
December 4

In Japan, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs, centered on the island of Hachijojima 325 kilometers southeast of Tokyo. [53]
December 23

In Managua, Nicaragua, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. 5,000-12,000 deaths, thousands injured. Estimated US$800 million in damages. [1] [53]

1973

January 23

Helgafell, island of Heimaey Iceland erupts for first time in 7,000 years. [1]
January 30

Near the coast of Michoacan, Mexico, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. 52 people killed, 390 were injured, 22,000 made homeless. A volcano 80 kilometers north of Colima begins eruption. [53]
February 28

In New Jersey, USA, a magnitude 3.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 17

In Luzon, Philippine Islands, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. 78 buildings destroyed in Lopez and Calauag. [53]
March 20

In the Kerguelen-Gausberg Rise of the Antarctic plate, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
June 17

In Japan, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs, centered in the northern coastal area of Hokkaido. Regional tsumani up to 3 metres. Twenty-six fishing boats battered or sunk, water supply temporarily disrupted, over 30,000 people evacuated, 250 tons of salmon on the docks washed away. The total damage estimated at $5 million. [53]
August 28

In Veracruz, Mexico, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. More than 600 killed, thousands injured. Heavy damage in the states of Morelos, Puebla, and Veracruz; thousands homeless. Felt strongly at Mexico City. [1] [53]
December 24

In New Mexico, USA, a magnitude 4.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 28

In the New Hebrides Islands, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 29

In the New Hebrides Islands, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. [53]

1974

March 11

Mount Etna in Sicily erupts. [1]
April 26

Landslide in Huancavelica Province, Peru creates a natural dam. [1]
May 8

In Japan, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs, on the Izu Peninsula. The earthquake killed 30 people, injured 82, and destroyed 121 homes. Approximately 1,510 houses damaged. [53]
May 10

In China, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. 20,000 dead. [53]
October 3

Neat the coast of Peru, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs, about 80 kilometers southwest of Lima. [53]
October 8

In the Leeward Islands, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. Considerable property damage on Antigua, Barbuda, and Saint Kitts. [53]
December 28

In Pakistan, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. 5,300 killed, 17,000 injured; a total of 97,000 people affected. The village of Pattan and nearby hamlets were completely destroyed. [1] [53]

1975

January 19

In the Kashmir-Xizang border region, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. 42 dead, 40 seriously injured, 2,500 people left homeless, and extensive damage in the Kinnaur district of the Himachal Pradesh State. [53]
February 2

Off Alaska, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs. [53]
February 4

In Haicheng, China, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. 10,000 dead. An evacuation warning was issued the day before the earthquake, due to changes in land elevation and in ground water levels, widespread reports of peculiar animal behavior, and many foreshocks. [53]
March 28

In Eastern Idaho, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 26

In the northern Atlantic Ocean, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs, off the coast of Portugal. [53]
July 8

In Burma, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs, about 100 kilometers southeast of Mandalay in the vicinity of Pagan, the ancient Burmese capital city. Over 2000 of the ancient monuments in the area were affected by the quake. [1] [53]
July 9

In Western Minnesota, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurs. Felt over northern Iowa, Minnesota, southeastern North Dakota, and eastern South Dakota. [53]
July 20

In the Solomon Islands, magnitude 7.9 and 7.7 earthquakes occurs, with several magnitude 6 quakes following. A local tsunami that demolished every house in the village of Torakina. [53]
August 1

In Oroville, California, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
September 6

In eastern Turkey, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. More than 2,000 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and extensive property damage in the Lice area. [1] [53]
November 29

In Kalapana, Hawaii, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
Kilauea Volcano erupts in Hawaii. [1]

1976

January 13

In Iceland, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
January 14

In the Kermadec Islands, magnitude 7.8 and 8.2 earthquakes occur, under an hour apart. [53]
February 4

In Guatemala, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs, centered about 160 kilometers northeast of Guatemala City. Over 23,000 deaths, thousands injured and homeless, extensive damage was extensive. [1] [53]
February 19

In Cuba, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 11

Near Newport, Rhode Island, a magnitude 3.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 25

In Turkey, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 9

In Ecuador, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 6

In Northeastern Italy, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. 1,000 killed, at least 1,700 injured, and extensive damage in the epicentral area. The quake was felt throughout Europe. [53]
May 17

In Uzbekistan, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. Six killed and 10,000 homeless in Gazli area. [1] [53]
May 29

In the Burma - China border region, magnitude 6.9 and 7.0 earthquakes occur, less than two hours apart. [53]
June 25

In Papua, Indonesia, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. Over 350 deaths from the quake and 5,000 to 9,000 people missing and presumed dead from subsequent landslides. Six villages destroyed. [53]
July 11

In the Panama-Colombia border region, magnitude 6.7 and 7.0 earthquakes occur, four hours apart. [53]
July 14

In Indonesia, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. Death toll approximately 563, and causes considerable damage on the island of Bali. [53]
July 27

In Tangshan, China, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. Official casualty figure is 255,000 deaths. Estimated death toll as high as 655,000. 799,000 injured and extensive damage in the Tang-Shan area. This is the second greatest earthquake in recorded history. [1] [53]
August 16

In Mindanao, Philippines, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. A tsunami generated in the Moro Gulf kills 5,000 to 8,000 people. [53]
August 19

In southwestern Turkey, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurs. 1800 homes destroyed. [53]
September 15

In Northeastern Italy, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs, followed by a 5.9 earthquake six hours later. Extensive damage in the area already stricken in May, leaving an additional 20,000 people homeless. The earthquakes were also felt sharply throughout central Europe. [53]
October 6

In Ecuador, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs, about 90 kilometers southeast of Quito. About 60 to 70 percent of the houses destroyed in Pastocalle. [53]
October 29

In Papua, Indonesia, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. The death toll from the earthquake and landslides caused by the earthquake is 133. [53]
November 7

In Iran, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. Three villages are completely destroyed. [53]
November 24

In the Turkey-Iran border region, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs. At least 5,000 people killed. Caldira, Muradiye, and surrounding villages near the Iranian border completely destroyed. [53]
November 30

In Chile, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs, about 550 kilometers north of Antofagasta near the Peruvian border. [53]
December 8

In South Africa, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs, centered about 300 kilometers south of Johannesburg. [53]

1977

February 8

Earthquake in San Francisco, California, at 5.0, strongest since 1966. [1]
March 4

In Romania, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs, centered about 170 kilometers northeast of Bucharest. It killed 1,500, injured about 10,500, and caused extensive damage in Bucharest and other parts of Romania. This shock was felt from Rome to Moscow and from Turkey to Finland. [1] [53]
March 18

In the Philippine Islands, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs, centered about 300 kilometers northeast of Manilla. [53]
March 21

In Iran, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs, centered in the Bandar Abbas area, near the Persian Gulf. 167 deaths, 556 injuries, considerable damage over an area of 550 square kilometers north of Bandar Abbas. About 7,000 people homeless. [53]
March 25

In Turkey, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 6

In Iran, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs, about 800 kilometers northwest of Bandar Abbas. At least 348 killed, and damage over an area of approximately 150 square kilometers. [53]
April 21

In the Solomon Islands, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs. Extensive damage on Guadacanal. [53]
June 22

In the Tonga Islands, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs, approximately 2200 kilometers north of Wellington, New Zealand. Extensive damage reported on Tonga Islands. Tsunami at Suva and Papeete. [53]
August 19

South of Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurs. At least 100 killed; several villages completely destroyed. Tsunami generated wave heights in excess of 10 metres along Sumbawa Island coastline, and 6 metres on the coast of Northern Australia. [53]
August 26

In the South Sandwich Islands, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs, about 2700 kilometers east of the southern tip of Argentina. [53]
October 17

North of New Zealand, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
November 23

In Argentina, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs, centered in the area of Bermejo and Caucete. The death toll is 70, at least 300 injured, and extensive damage in many of the surrounding areas. [53]
December 19

In Kerman Province, Iran, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurs. The town of Zarland and surrounding villages are the hardest hit; some of the villages are completely destroyed. [53]

1978

January 14

In Southern Honshu, Japan, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. Considerable damage in the area, including many landslides, and damage is estimated at about US$76 million. [53]
June 12

In Japan, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs, near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. [53]
June 20

In Greece, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs, centered about 30 kilometres northeast of Thessaloniki. At least 50 people killed, and extensive damage in the Thessaloniki area. The shock is felt throughout Bulgaria and southern Yugoslavia. [53] [841]
September 16

In Iran, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs, centered about 600 kilometres southeast of Tehran in the vicinity of Tabas. One of the world's deadliest earthquakes. The death toll is about 15,000, and damage is extensive. Tabas has the highest death toll - 9,000 killed out of a population of 13,000. [1] [53]
November 29

In Oaxaca, Mexico, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 14

Near Izeh in Iran, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. Seventy-six people killed, considerable damage in the areas of Izeh and Masjed-e-Soleyman. [53]

1979

January 16

In Iran, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
February 16

Near the coast of Peru, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
February 28

In Mt. Saint Elias, Alaska, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 14

Near the coast of Guerrero, Mexico, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs. Extensive damage in the epicentral and Mexico City areas. [53]
April 13

The La Soufrière volcano erupts in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. [840]
April 15

In Yugoslavia, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. At least 156 people killed, more than 1,400 injured, 100,000 homeless, and extensive damage along the southwestern coast of Yugoslavia and in northern Albania. Also felt over a wide area of Europe. [53] [840]
May 30

In the Sumbawa Island region, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. At least 22 people killed, 70 injured, and extensive damage and landslides on Lombok Island. [53]
June 2

In Western Australia, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 1

Near Puerto Armuelles, Panama, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. The quake is felt strongly in southeastern Costa Rica. [53]
July 9

In Eastern China, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. At least 41 people killed, more than 2,000 injured, and considerable damage in the Liyang area. [53]
September 12

In West Irian region, 1000km north of Australia, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. Extensive damage on Yapen island. [53]
September 19

In Italy, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurs, about 110 kilometres northeast of Rome. Five people killed, and extensive damage occurred in the vicinity of Norcia. [53]
October 15

In Imperial Valley, California, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 12

Near the coast of Ecuador, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs. At least 600 people killed, 20,000 injured. The earthquake was felt strongly in many parts of southern Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. A 3-metre tsunami along the Colombian coast caused deaths and damage on Gorgona Island, and caused extensive damage to most port cities along the coast of Colombia from Buenaventura south. [53] [840]
December 17

In the Sumbawa Island region, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs. Twenty-seven people reported killed, 200 reported injured, and about 80 percent of the homes and buildings were destroyed or badly damaged in Karangasem on eastern Bali. [53]
December 26

In the United Kingdom, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurs, located about 30 km northeast of Carlisle. [53]

End of 1970-1979. Next: 1980.

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