This is a list of earthquakes in 1990. 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.
By death toll Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date150,0007.4 Iran, Gilan 21,6217.7 Philippines, Luzon 31266.5 China, Qinghai 4216.6 Iran 5195.6 Italy, Sicily 6147.0 Romania, Vrancea
By magnitude Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 5 Indonesia 1,621 Philippines 0 Fiji unreported 0 Northern Mariana Islands 50,000 Iran 0 Costa Rica 0 Russia 0 South Sudan 70 Vanuatu 125.7 10 0 Vanuatu 10 0 South Sudan 10 0 Indonesia 10 8 Philippines 10 0 Vanuatu 10 0 United States, Alaskaunreported 16 14 Romania 16 0 Peru Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.
By month January
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured, Niuatoputapu, 118 km east northeast of Hihifo6.553.5 - - - -, Jalisco, 189 km southwest of La Cruz de Loreto6.033.0 - - - -South Indian Ocean6.014.8 - - - -, Alaska, 107 km south southwest of Nikolski6.033.0 - - - -, 120 km east of Wangjing, India6.3119.2V - - -, northern Qinghai6.012.2VII - - -, Kermadec Islands6.158.3 - - - -, Kermadec Islands6.013.4 - - - -, Tehran, 36 km east of Soleh Bon6.024.5VII Slight damage occurred in Firuzkuh. - -, Aceh, 28 km south of Meulaboh6.245.7V - - -
February
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured2, Viti Levu, 84 km southwest of Nadi6.010.0V - - -5, Badakhshan Province, 42 km east northeast of Jurm6.3109.9VI Slight damage occurred in Khorog, in neighboring Tajikistan. - -8, Central Visayas, 13 km south southwest of Bacong6.825.9VIIAfter the 1990 Bohol Sea earthquake, six fatalities were reported and more than 200 people were injured. About 46,000 people were displaced by the event. This event damaged at least ₱154 million to properties. Anomalously large tsunami waves reportedly impacted Camiguin Island.62008, Central Visayas, 6 km south southwest of Bacong6.630.3VIAftershock of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the same area minutes ago. - -10, 90 km north of Amberley6.09.8VIISlight damage occurred in the Canterbury Region. - -17, Miyazaki, 80 km south southeast Koshima6.165.9III - - -19, 41 km east of Palmerston North6.324.3VIIOver $440,000 worth of damage occurred in Palmerston North. - -19, Espiritu Santo, 83 km west of Luganville6.912.1VIII - - -20, Shizuoka, 28 km east of Shimoda6.414.2VII - - -24, Niuatoputapu, 161 km west northwest of Hihifo6.233.0 - - - -26 region6.114.2 - - - -28, California, 6 km north northeast of Claremont5.53.3VIIThe 1990 Upland earthquake left some buildings damaged and 30 people injured. -30
March
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured3, south of Fiji Islands7.633.2 IV - - -3, south of Fiji Islands6.233.0I - - -3, southeast of Loyalty Islands6.633.0I - - -4, Balochistan, 27 km west southwest of Kalat6.110.1VIIIIn Kalat, eleven deaths and 40 injuries were reported. Many homes were damaged.11405, Shefa, 69 km north of Port-Vila7.120.7VI - - -5, 62 km east of Khandad6.212.2VII - - -12, Alaska, 97 km southwest of Atka6.413.8IV - - -15, Espiritu Santo, 20 km east southeast of Port Olry6.5132.3V - - -16, Sinaloa, 72 km south southwest of El Huitusi6.110.0V - - -21, Kermadec Islands6.6144.8I - - -25, Puntarenas, 11 km east of Paquera6.426.6VIIIForeshock of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the same area minutes later. - -25, Puntarenas, 7 km south southeast of Puntarenas7.322.2VIIIThe earthquake was also felt in other countries like Nicaragua and Panama. Ten people were injured by the earthquake. About 60 buildings were severely damaged. Several landslides blocked the roads in San José area. -1025, 56 km east of Khandad6.333.0VISlight damage occurred in villages near the Pamir Mountains. - -26, Surigao del Norte, 5 km northeast of Jagupit5.939.2VIOne person died and 2 were injured in Santiago.1231, 102 km south of Shikotan6.021.0I - - -
April
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured2, Wales4.710.0 VThe 1990 Bishop's Castle earthquake left damage to several buildings. - -3, eastern New Guinea region6.288.2V - - -3, Carazo, 36 km south southwest of La Conquista6.852.5VII - - -5, 198 km east of Saipan7.611.4V - - -6, South Sandwich Islands region6.033.0I - - -6, 197 km east of Saipan6.315.5I - - -9, south of the Fiji Islands6.017.4I - - -11, Kyoto, 11 km east northeast of Maizuru6.1362.3III - - -17, Xinjiang, 93 km west of Kashgar6.013.0VITwo people were injured and many houses collapsed in Wuqia County. - 217central Mid-Atlantic Ridge6.110.0I - - -18, Sulawesi, 75 km north northwest of Gorontalo7.825.7VIIThe earthquake damaged several houses and buildings. Five people died, while 36 others injured.53618, Sulawesi, 86 km north of Gorontalo6.519.1VAftershock of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the same area few hours ago. - -19, Sulawesi, Minahasa6.033.0IVAftershock of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia on April 18. - -19, Sulawesi, 75 km north northeast of Gorontalo6.523.7VIAftershock of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the same area on April 18. - -21, 15 km west northwest of Coronel6.311.9VII - - -26, Qinghai, 148 km west southwest of Xining6.310.0VIIIForeshock of the 1990 Gonghe earthquake - -26, Qinghai, 143 km west southwest of Xining6.210.0VIIIForeshock of the 1990 Gonghe earthquake - -26, Qinghai, 153 km west southwest of Xining6.58.1IXThe 1990 Gonghe earthquake leaves 126 dead and 2,049 injured. Several homes and buildings collapsed and were damaged.1262,04926, Qinghai, 141 km west southwest of Xining6.39.6VIIIAftershock of the 1990 Gonghe earthquake - -26, Sulawesi, 63 km north northwest of Gorontalo6.024.4VAftershock of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the same area on April 18. - -28, Puntarenas 8 km south southeast of Ciudad Cortés6.422.7VII - - -30, Bouvet Island region6.010.0I - - -
May
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured1, Alaska, 19 km south southeast King Salmon6.6252.0IV - - -2, West New Britain, 6 km south southeast Kimbe6.481.6VI - - -8, Chiriquí, 127 km south southeast Punta de Burica6.59.6 - - - -9, South Sandwich Islands region6.033.0 - - - -11 North Korea, 67 km southeast of Rajin6.3578.5 - - - -12, 16 km west southwest of Uglegorsk7.2605.7III - - -13, 39 km east southeast of Palmerston North6.420.6VII - - -14, Maule, 18 km east of Linares6.275.9V - - -15, 77 km southeast of Farkh?r6.0113.1IV - - -15, Sulawesi, 105 km west of Tomohon6.029.7V - - -20, Central Equatoria, 69 km east northeast of Juba7.214.9VIII - - -20, Vava'u, 135 km west northwest of Neiafu6.3232.2 - - - -20, south of the Kermadec Islands6.1345.6 - - - -22, West Chile Rise6.133.0 - - - -24 South Sudan, Central Equatoria, 54 km north northeast of Juba6.516.5VIII - - -24 South Sudan, Central Equatoria, 63 km north northeast of Juba7.116.0VIIIThe earthquake was reported to have done substantial damage to private housing and government institutions at Terakeka which is 60 km north of Juba. The damage made by the earthquake was minimal. No loss of lives reported. In Juba, minor cracking of the walls of some older buildings reported. - -24, West Manggarai, 135 km north northeast of Labuan Bajo7.1588.9III - - -29, Alaska, 155 km south southeast of Akhiok6.110.0 - - - -30, 6 km east southeast of Segunda Jerusalén – Azunguillo6.624.2VII - - -30, 5 km west of Nistore?ti7.089.3VIIIThe 1990 Vrancea earthquakes killed 14 people and injured 362 others. Landslides were reported. Total damage of loss in Romania was $16 million, while $2 million total damage were reported in Moldova and Bulgaria. $24 million insured losses in Romania. The earthquake killed nine people in Romania. Four people died and several others injured in Moldova, while in northern Bulgaria, one person died from heart attack. The earthquake also injured some people in Ukraine.1436231, 2 km south southwest of Nistore?ti6.388.2V31, Guerrero 7 km northeast of Nuxco6.022.6VI - - -
June
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured1, near the east coast Honshu6.367.0VI - - -7, 68 km northeast of Angoram6.529.3VI - - -8, Ovalau, 219 km east southeast of Levuka6.5499.2 - - - -14, Western Visayas, 0 km east southeast of Union7.118.1VIIIThe 1990 Panay earthquake left heavy damage to several buildings in Panay Island. It also left several structures collapsed. Upliftments were recorded in some barangays. Landslides were recorded along the slope of Mt. Madya-as. The earthquake killed eight people and injured 41.84114, 47 km north northeast of Zaysan6.657.9VI - - -15, East New Britain, 79 km south southwest of Kokopo6.060.1V - - -16, Okinawa, 153 km north of Nago6.027.0 - - - -17, Balochistan, 99 km west southwest of Khuzdar6.114.5VII - - -21, 23 km north of Manjil7.418.5IXThe 1990 Manjil-Rudbar earthquake killed up to 50,000 people, injured 105,000 people and displaced 400,000 people in Iran. The earthquake caused widespread damage in Iran.50,000105,00023, Manus, 180 km north northwest of Lorengau6.223.9 - - - -23, Tongatapu, 139 km west southwest of Haveluloto6.9180.5 - - - -23, south of the Fiji Islands6.3586.8 - - - -
July
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured9 South Sudan, Central Equatoria, 60 km north of Juba6.612.6VIII - - -10, Makira, 88 km west of Kirakira6.466.3VI - - -11, south of the Fiji Islands6.0584.8 - - - -11, south of the Fiji Islands6.0589.8 - - - -13, Badakhshan Province, 50 km east northeast of Jurm6.4216.8IV The earthquake triggered an avalanche on Lenin Peak, killing 43 mountaineers. 43 -14, north of Ascension Island6.611.1 - - - -16, Luzon, 4 km east of Macapsing7.725.1IXThe 1990 Luzon earthquake caused widespread damage in the Philippines. The earthquake produced a 125 km-long ground rupture that stretched from Dingalan, Aurora to Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya. The event was a result of strike-slip movements along the Philippine Fault and the Digdig Fault within the Philippine fault system. At least 1,621 people were killed in the earthquake.1,6213,51317, Luzon, 10 km east southeast of Ambuclao6.118.3VIIAftershock of the 1990 Luzon earthquake - -17, Luzon, 14 km north northwest of Salinas6.523.1VIAftershock of the 1990 Luzon earthquake - -22, south of the Fiji Islands6.3531.3 - - - -27, Espiritu Santo, 37 km east northeast of Luganville7.2125.7VII - - -
August
+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured2, Coquimbo, 49 km west of Illapel6.035.8VI - - -3, 55 km west of Zaysan6.233.4VI - - -5, Izu Islands6.5469.2 - - - -5, 43 km east of ?arai6.126.6V - - -5, north of Ascension Island6.410.0 - - - -10, North Maluku 143 km west southwest of Ternate6.253.2 - - - -12, Tanna, 19 km northwest of Isangel7.1140.4VII - - -14 northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge6.310.0 - - - -16, Xinjiang, 157 km south southwest of Turpan6.20.0 -This earthquake was a Nuclear Explosion - -17, Makira, 78 km south of Kirakira6.729.1VI - - -18Mid Indian-Ridge6.210.0 - - - -18, Sumatra, 232 km northwest of Sabang6.029.1 - - - -21 region6.010.5 - - - -25, North Maluku 147 km west southwest of Ternate6.411.3 - - - -
September