Chronology of Earthquakes and Volcanos (1980-1989)

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.

1980

January 1

In Azores Islands, Portugal, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. At least 60 people killed, 400 or more injured and extensive damage. [53]
January 24

North of Livermore Valley, California, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 27

Mount Saint Helens in Washington state becomes active after 123 years. [1]
May 18

At Mount Saint Helens, Washington, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurs, preceeding an eruption by seconds. [53]
Mount Saint Helens erupts in Washington, killing 57 and causing US$3 billion in damage. 396 metres of the top of the mountain explodes in a gigantic dust cloud. [1] [53] [120]
June 9

In the California - Mexico border region, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs. [53]

July 27

In Northeast Kentucky, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs. Felt in 15 states and in parts of southern Ontario, Canada. [53]
July 29

In Nepal, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs. 100-200 people killed, many injured and extensive damage in western Nepal. [53]
August 9

In Guatemala, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 18

Near the coast of Ecuador, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurs. Eight people killed, 100 injured and extensive damage in the Guayaquil area. [53]
August 23

In the Kashmir - India border region, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
October 10

In El Asnam, Algeria, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs. At least 5,000 people killed, 9,000 injured and extensive damage. [1] [53] [120]
October 24

In central Mexico, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. At least 300 people killed, many injured, approximately 150,000 homeless and extensive damage in central Mexico. [53]
November 8

In Gorda Plate, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. Most of the damage occurred east of Fields Landing, where two sections of an overpass on U.S. Highway 101 collapsed onto the railroad tracks below. [53]
November 23

In Southern Italy, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. Over 3,000 people killed, about 1,900 missing, 7,750 injured, 250,000 homeless and extensive damage. [53] [120]

1981

January 19

In Irian Jaya, Indonesia, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. Three hundred five people killed, some injured and about 1,000 missing in the Jayawijaya Mountains. [53]
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January 23

In Sichuan Province, China, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. One hundred fifty people killed, 300 injured and extensive damage in the Dawu area. [53]
February 24

In Greece, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. Sixteen people killed, more than 400 injured, and considerable damage in the Athens-Corinth area. [53] [119]
June 11

In Southern Iran, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. Three thousand people killed, many injured, and extensive damage in Kerman Province. [53]
July 28

In Southern Iran, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs. Fifteen hundred people killed, 1,000 injured, 50,000 homeless and extensive damage in the Kerman region. [53]
September 12

In Kashmir, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. At least 220 people killed, 2,500 injured, and extensive damage and landslides in the Gilgit area. [53]
October 16

Off the coast of Central Chile, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
October 18

In Venezuela, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurs. Fifteen people killed, many injured, and extensive damage in the Cucuta, Colombia-San Cristobal area. [53]
October 25

In Michoacan, Mexico, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 12

In Pakistan, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 19

In the Aegean Sea, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs. [53]

1982

January 9

5.9 earthquake in New England and Canada; first since 1855. [1]
January 11

In Luzon, Philippine Islands, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
January 12

In Honduras, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
January 18

In the Aegean Sea, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. Felt strongly throughout Greece, also felt in Bulgaria, southeastern Italy, southeastern Yugoslavia and western Turkey. [53]
March 21

In Hokkaido, Japan region, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 28

Near the coast of Peru, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. Three people killed and extensive damage at Lunahuana. [53]
April 13

In South Africa, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
June 7

Near the coast of Guerrero, Mexico, a magnitude 7.2 earthquakes occurs, followed in four hours by another 7.0 earthquake. Felt strongly throughout southern Mexico. [53]
June 15

In Sichuan Province, China, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurs. Ten people killed, 5 injured and damage in the Garze area. [53]
June 19

Offshore El Salvador, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. At least 40 people killed, many injured and thousands of people left homeless in El Salvador. Felt in Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua. [53]
September 29

In Guatemala, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
November 16

In Albania, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 13

In Yemen, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs, centered about 46 miles south of Sana, the capital. Deaths of more than 2,800 people killed, 1,500 injured, 700,000 homeless and about 300 villages destroyed or badly damaged. [1] [53]
December 16

In the Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. 450 people killed. [53]
December 25

In the Flores Island region, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. Thirteen people killed, 390 injured, 1,875 homes destroyed and other buildings damaged. [53]

1983

January 3

Kilauea begins slowly erupting on the Big Island of Hawaii and is still flowing as of 2008. [115]
January 24

In Oaxaca, Mexico, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 15

In Honshu, Japan, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 18

In New Ireland region, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 23

In Greece, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 25

In Iran, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs. Thirty people killed, 61 injured. [53]
March 31

In Colombia, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. 250-350 people killed, many injured and extensive damage in the Popayan area. [1] [53]
April 3

In Costa Rica, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 2

In Coalinga, California, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs, injuring 487. [1] [53]
May 26

Near the west coast of Honshu, Japan, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs. At least 104 people killed, some injured, and extensive damage to dwellings, roads, and vessels caused by earthquake and a tsunami along the Japan Sea coast from southern Hokkaido to the Niigata area, Honshu. Estimated tsunami heights were 14 metres at Minehama, Honshu. [53] [115]
June 21

In Hokkaido, Japan, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 3

In Costa Rica, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 5

In Turkey, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 22

In Western Iran, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 8

Near the south coast of Honshu, Japan, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 17

In Luzon, Philippine Islands, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. Sixteen people killed, 47 injured and extensive damage in the Pasuquin-Laoag-Batac and Serrat areas. [53]
October 4

Near the coast of Northern Chile, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs. At least 5 people killed, 24 injured and extensive damage in the Copiapo-Chanaral area. [53]
October 7

In New York, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. [53]
October 28

In Borah Peak, Idaho, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs, the largest historical earthquake in Idaho. [53]
October 30

In Turkey, a magnitude 6.9-7.1 earthquake occurs. At least 1,342 people killed, 534 seriously injured, more than 25,000 people homeless, and 50 villages completely destroyed in the provinces of Erzurum and Kars. [53] [870.32]
November 6

In Eastern China, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. Thirty-four people killed, about 2,200 injured and about 3,300 houses destroyed in the Heze-Dongming area of Shandong Province. [53]
November 8

In Belgium, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
November 16

In Hawaii, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
November 30

In Chagos Archipelago Region, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 22

In Guinea, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs. At least 443 people killed, 200 missing, 150 seriously injured and extensive damage in the Gaoual-Koumbia area, Guinea. [53]
December 30

In the Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. Twelve people killed, 483 injured and extensive damage in the Kabul-Samangan, Afghanistan area. Fourteen people killed, hundreds injured, and moderate damage in the Peshawar, Pakistan area. [53]

1984

January 8

In Sulawesi, Indonesia, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 19

In Western Uzbekistan, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 27

Near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 23

In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 24

In Morgan Hill, California, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 29

In Central Italy, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 7

In Southern Italy, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 13

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 21

In Eastern China, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 19

In the United Kingdom, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 6

In Kyushu, Japan, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 27

In Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs. One hundred twenty-three people injured and 405 buildings damaged in the Tarutung area. Felt at Kuala Lumpur and Pinang, Malaysia. [53]
September 13

In Honshu, Japan, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs. At least 24 people killed and severe damage and landslides in the Otaki area. [53]
September 18

Off the east coast of Honshu, Japan, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
In Turkey, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs. Three people killed, 38 injured, and 75,000 houses destroyed or damaged in the Olur-Senkaya area. [53]
October 18

In Turkey, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. Three people killed, 35 injured, and 75,000 homes damaged in the Erzurum-Senkaya area. [53]
December 30

In the India-Bangladesh border region, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurs. Twenty people killed, about 100 injured, 10,000 homeless and extensive damage in southern Assam, India. [53]

1985

January 26

In Mendoza Province, Argentina, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs. Six people killed, at least 238 injured and about 12,500 homes destroyed or damaged. [53]
March 3

Offshore Valparaiso, Chile, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs. At least 177 people killed, 2,575 injured and extensive damage in central Chile. [53]
March 16

In Leeward Islands, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 17

Near the coast of Central Chile, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 18

In Mindanao, Philippine Islands, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 19

In Bolivia, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 18

In Yunnan Province, China, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake occurs. Twenty-three people killed, 300 injured. [53]
April 24

In Luzon, Philippine Islands, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 10

In New Britain Region, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs. Felt at Rabaul and strongly in many parts of Papua New Guinea. [53]
May 14

Northwest of Madagascar, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 3

In the New Britian region, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 29

In Hindu Kush Region, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 15

In Hungary, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 21

Near the coast of Northern Peru, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurs. At least 100 people injured, 60 homes destroyed and damage to other buildings in the Chimbote area. Felt along the coast of Peru from Chiclayo to Chincha. [53]
August 23

In Southern Xinjiang, China, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurs. At least 71 people killed, 162 injured, about 15,000 homeless and about 85 percent of the buildings destroyed in the Wuqia-Shufu area. [53]
September 19

In Michoacan, Mexico, a magnitude 8.0 earthquake occurs. At least 9,500 people were killed, about 30,000 were injured, more than 100,000 people were left homeless, and severe damage was caused in parts of Mexico City and in several states of central Mexico. [1] [53] [85]
September 21

Near the coast of Guerrero, Mexico, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurs. Additional casualties and damage in the Mexico City area. Felt in many parts of central Mexico. Local tsunami recorded at Acapulco with maximum amplitude of 1.4 metres. [53]
October 5

In Northwest Territories, Canada, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. [53]
October 11

In Guatemala, a magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurs. [53]
October 13

In Tajik SSR, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. At least 29 people killed, 80 injured and about 8,000 homeless in the Kayrakkum-Gafurov area. [53]
October 27

In Algeria, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
November 13

Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupts, killing an estimated 23,000 people in Colombia. [1] [85]
December 23

In Northwest Territories, Canada, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. [53]

1986

January 29

In southern Sumatra, Indonesia, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
January 31

In Ohio, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 31

In Central California, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
April 5

In Peru, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. At least 16 people killed, 170 injured and 2,000 houses destroyed in the Cuzco area. [53]
April 26

In Himachal Pradesh, India, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. Six people killed, about 30 injured and 85 percent of the houses damaged in the Dharmsala, India area. [53]
April 30

In Michoacan, Mexico, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 5

In Turkey, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. Fifteen people killed, 100 injured and approximately 4,000 houses damaged. [53]
May 7

In Andreanof Islands, Alaska, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurs. Tsunami generated with observed wave heights up to 175 cm. [53]
May 13

In the Georgia-Turkey border region, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
June 11

Near the coast of Venezuela, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
June 24

In Papua New Guinea, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 8

In North Palm Springs, California, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 13

In the California - Mexico border region, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. [53]
July 21

In the California - Nevada border region, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 21

Lake Nios volcanic eruption in Cameroon releases poison gas, killing 1,746. [1] [84]
August 30

In Romania, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. Two people killed, 558 injured, and about 55,000 homes damaged, leaving more than 12,500 people homeless in the Kishinev-Kagul area, USSR. [53]
September 13

In Southern Greece, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. At least twenty people killed, about 300 injured, 2,500 homeless and 1,500 buildings damaged or destroyed. [53] [84]
October 10

In El Salvador, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. At least 1,000 people killed, 10,000 injured, 200,000 homeless and severe damage and landslides in the San Salvador area. Felt strongly in parts of Guatemala and Honduras. [1] [53] [84]
October 20

In the Kermadec Islands region, a magnitude 8.3 earthquake occurs. [53]
November 14

In Taiwan, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs. Fifteen people killed, 44 injured. [53]
December 7

In Bulgaria, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurs. [53]

1987

January 26

In Algeria, a magnitude 4.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 6

In the Colombia - Ecuador border region, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake occurs. Approximately 1,000 people killed, 4,000 missing, 20,000 homeless, extensive damage in Ecuador. About 27 km of the oil pipeline in Ecuador destroyed or badly damaged. [1] [53]
June 10

In Illinois, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 8

In Northern Chile, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. Five people killed, 112 injured and more than 1,000 houses destroyed. [53]
October 1

In Pasadena, California, a magnitude 5.9-6.1 earthquake occurs. Eight people killed, 100+ injured, about 2,200 homeless and more than 10,400 buildings damaged. Felt strongly in much of southern California. [1] [53] [851.49]
October 2

In Peru, a magnitude 5.4 earthquake occurs. [53]
November 17

In the Gulf of Alaska, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs. [53] [83]
November 24

In Southern California, magnitude 6.5 and 6.7 earthquakes occur, about 12 hours apart. Felt throughout much of southern California from San Diego and Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nevada and Tempe, Arizona. Also felt at Tijuana and Ensenada, Mexico. [53]
November 30

In the Gulf of Alaska, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurs. [53]

1988

January 22

In Tennant Creek, Australia, magnitude 6.3, 6.4, and 6.6 earthquakes occur. Felt over two-thirds of Australia. [53]
March 6

In the Gulf of Alaska, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
March 10

Avalanche at Swiss ski resort "Klosters" nearly kills Prince Charles. [1]
August 6

In Myanmar, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs. Five people killed, 42 injured. Felt throughout Bangladesh and northeastern India. [53]
August 10

In Solomon Islands, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurs. One person killed and about 100 homes washed away in 13 villages along the southwestern coast of San Cristobal where a tsunami flooded 50-100 metres inland. [53]
August 20

In the Nepal-India border region, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. 721 people killed, 6,553 injured and 64,470 buildings damaged in eastern Nepal. At least 277 people killed, thousands injured and extensive damage in northern Bihar, India. Felt in large parts of northern India from Delhi to the Burma border and in much of Bangladesh. [53]
November 6

In the Burma-China Border Region, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake occurs. 730 people killed, 3,900 injured, 267,000 homeless, 29 reservoirs severely damaged and 67 percent of the public buildings destroyed in the Lancang-Menglian area, China. [53]
November 25

In southern Quebec, Canada, a magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurs. Felt to the east coast, and as far south as Washington, D.C. [1] [53]
December 6

In southern Iran, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 7

In Armenia, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurs. At least 25,000 people killed, 19,000 injured and 500,000 homeless. Damage totals US$16.2 billion. [1] [53] [82]

1989

January 22

In Tajikistan, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. Two hundred seventy-four people killed, many injured, extensive damage. [53]
March 10

In Malawi, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurs. At least 9 people killed, 100 injured, about 50,000 left homeless. [53]
April 25

Near the coast of Guerrero, Mexico, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
May 7

In the Burma-China border region, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurs. At least one person killed, 91 injured and 5,300 houses destroyed. [53]
June 26

In Hawaii, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurs. Two events about 5 seconds apart. Five people injured slightly, 5 homes destroyed and about 100 homes damaged. [53]
August 1

In Papua, Indonesia, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurs. About 120 people killed and 125 injured by landslides which buried two villages. [53]
August 20

In Ethiopia, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. [53]
August 29

Off the coast of Jalisco, Mexico, a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
September 4

In Semidi Islands, Alaska, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. [53]
September 22

In Sichuan Province, China, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurs. At least 54 people injured, about 4,270 houses destroyed. [53]
October 17

In Loma Prieta, California, an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale occurs. Three events are about 1.5 and 3.0 seconds apart. Sixty-two people killed, 3,757 injured and damage estimated at US$5.6 billion. [1] [43] [53]
October 18

In Northeastern China, a magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurs. At least 29 people killed, 150 injured and about 27,500 houses damaged. [53]
October 29

In Algeria, magnitude 5.9 and 5.6 earthquakes occur 12 minute apart. At least 30 people killed, 245 injured. [53]
November 20

In Sichuan Province, China, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurs. Four people killed, 161 injured and at least 1,000 homes destroyed. [53]
In southern Iran, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurs. [53]
December 28

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake hits Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, killing 13 people. Estimated damage: US$1.1 billion. [1] [43] [53]

End of 1980-1989. Next: 1990.

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