This is a list of earthquakes in 1908. 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. One of the early 20th century's worst earthquakes happened this year in Italy. A magnitude 8.2 earthquake was said to have occurred off the Peruvian coast on 12 December. This earthquake has been proven to be of false origin since seismological data does not support its existence.
Overall
By death toll
Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 120,000 , Sicily Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 Mexico, Guerrero 2 Dutch East Indies, off west coast of Sumatra 3 Scotia Sea 4 Japan, off east coast of Honshu = 5 Mexico, off the coast of Guerrero = 5 Southwest Indian Ridge = 6 United States, Gulf of Alaska = 6 Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province = 6 British Burma, Kachin State = 6 120,000 Italy, Sicily Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Taiwan, Taitung County 6.8 5.0 Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 7.1 35.0
February
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Dutch East Indies, off the west coast of Sumatra 7.5 130.0 China, western Sichuan 6.7 15.0 United States, southern Alaska 6.0 0.0 Depth unknown.
March
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Philippines, Mindanao 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown. Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province 6.5 200.0 Dutch East Indies, Timor Sea 6.6 0.0 Some damage was caused on Timor. Depth unknown. Mexico, Guerrero 7.7 80.0 Some damage was caused. Mexico, off the coast of Guerrero 7.0 0.0 Depth unknown.
April
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province 6.6 220.0 Russia, Sea of Japan 6.7 450.0 Southwest Indian Ridge 7.0 0.0 Depth unknown.
May
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Russia, Kuril Islands 6.5 35.0 Dutch East Indies, Celebes Sea 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown. United States, Gulf of Alaska 7.0 0.0 Depth unknown. Greece, south of Crete 6.6 100.0
August
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Scotia Sea 7.2 0.0 Depth unknown. China, western Xizang Province 6.9 15.0
September
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured United States, south of Hawaii (island) 6.8 0.0 Depth unknown.
October
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Romania, Buzau County 6.6 150.0 Mexico, Guerrero 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown. Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province 6.9 220.0 rowspan="2"|These events can be considered a doublet earthquake. Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province 7.0 220.0
November
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Dutch East Indies, southwest of the Mentawai Islands 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown. Russia, Kuril Islands 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown.
December
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured British Burma, Kachin State 7.2 15.0 Italy, Sicily 7.0 15.0 The 1908 Messina earthquake caused 82,000 deaths in total. The earthquake contributed to 80,000 of the total. A tsunami resulted in another 2,000 deaths. Damage costs were around $116 million (1908 rate). 82,000
References