1923 was a memorable year for earthquakes. Among the events was the great Tokyo, Japan earthquake. Other destructive earthquakes struck China, Iran, Colombia and Russia. The Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia and Japan saw very much activity this year.

The earthquakes listed here include those of magnitude 6.0 or greater; lower magnitude events are included if they caused death, injury or damage. Events which occurred in remote areas are excluded as they would not have generated significant media interest. All dates are listed according to UTC time.

Overall

By death toll

Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu 2 , Sichuan 3 Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province 4 , Narino Department 5 Iran, Kerman Province 6 Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province 7 , Pichincha Province 8 Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka Peninsula Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka Peninsula 2 , Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu 3 , Chiba Prefecture, Honshu 4 , Raja Ampat Islands = 5 Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka Peninsula = 5 , off the south coast of Honshu = 6 Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka Peninsula = 6 British Burma, Shan State = 6 , northwest of Bougainville Island = 7 , off the east coast of Honshu = 7 , off the south coast of Honshu = 8 , Mindanao = 8 , Sichuan = 8 , south of the Alaska Peninsula = 8 , south of Kyushu = 8 , Tokyo Bay, Honshu = 8 , southeast New Ireland (island) Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the coast of northern California 6.9 15.0 Some damage was reported.

February

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , southeast of the Loyalty Islands 6.9 30.0 Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka 6.7 15.0 Foreshock. Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka 7.2 35.0 Foreshock. Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka 8.4 15.0 The February 1923 Kamchatka earthquake generated a large tsunami which caused some damage. Three deaths were reported. Two were in Russia with the third being in Hawaii. Damage costs were $1.5 million (1923 rate). 3 , Central Sulawesi 6.5 35.0 , Pichincha Province 6.8 0.0 At least 51 deaths were caused. 51+ Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka 7.3 15.0 Some damage was caused.

March

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Mindanao 7.0 15.0 , southeast of Mindanao 6.4 35.0 , southeast of Mindanao 6.8 35.0 , Sichuan 7.0 15.0 The 1923 Renda earthquake killed 4,800 people and caused major property damage. 4,800

April

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Russian SFSR, eastern Kamchatka 8.2 35.0 18 people were killed due to a tsunami caused by the April 1923 Kamchatka earthquake and tsunami. 400 people were believed drowned in Korea. Major damage was reported. 18 , Kalimantan 6.8 35.0 , Ryukyu Islands 6.6 20.0

May

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , south of the Alaska Peninsula 7.0 25.0 , Atacama Region 6.5 35.0 Some homes were damaged or destroyed. , Sunda Strait 6.4 25.0 , off the south coast of Java 0.0 0.0 Damage was reported in the area. The magnitude and depth were unknown. Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka 6.5 15.0 Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province 5.7 0.0 2,200

June

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the east coast of Honshu 6.9 15.0 rowspan="2"|This pair of events struck three hours apart and is an example of a doublet earthquake. , off the east coast of Honshu 7.1 35.0 6.8 15.0 British Burma, Shan State 7.2 25.0

July

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Taiwan, north of 6.2 25.0 , north of Vanua Levu 6.4 15.0 , off the south coast of Kyushu 7.0 35.0 , east of Tanegashima 6.6 35.0 Aftershock. , south of Loma Linda, California 6.2 35.0 Two people were injured and several buildings at Patton State Hospital were irreparably damaged; other minor damage was caused.

August

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Greece, south of Crete 6.5 35.0 , Sucre, Venezuela 6.3 110.0 Malaya, Sabah 6.3 35.0 , Ryukyu Islands 6.6 35.0 , Gulf of California 6.5 10.0

September

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu 8.1 15.0 The 1923 Great Kantō earthquake was one of the most destructive of the 20th Century. Tokyo and surrounding areas suffered heavily both in human and material terms. The death toll was 142,807 with another 43,476 missing. Another 47,000 were injured. Strong aftershocks rattled the region and the fires associated with the earthquakes caused further disruption. Property damage was $600 million (1923 rate). 695,000 homes were destroyed. 186,283 47,000 , off the south coast of Honshu 6.5 60.0 Aftershock. , off the south coast of Honshu 7.3 35.0 Aftershock. , Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu 6.6 35.0 Aftershock. , off the south coast of Honshu 7.0 35.0 Aftershock. , Shizuoka Prefecture, Honshu 6.7 35.0 Aftershock. , off the east coast of Honshu 6.5 35.0 Aftershock. , off the south coast of Honshu 6.4 15.0 Aftershock. , off the south coast of Honshu 7.8 15.0 Aftershock. , off the south coast of Honshu 7.1 35.0 Aftershock. , Kanagawa Prefecture, Honshu 6.5 5.0 Aftershock. , Beni Department 6.8 35.0 Bangladesh, Netrokona District 6.8 15.0 Mongolia, Zavkhan Province 6.2 35.0 , Papua (province) 6.5 35.0 Iran, Razavi Khorasan Province 6.4 15.0 157 people were killed and major damage was caused. 157 Iran, Kerman Province 6.8 15.0 290 people were killed. 290 , off the south coast of Honshu 6.5 10.0 Aftershock.

October

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Bangladesh, Punjab, Pakistan 6.3 15.0 , Raja Ampat Islands 7.4 15.0 , north of Jan Mayen 6.5 15.0 , southern Sumba 6.3 35.0

November

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , northwest of Bougainville Island 7.2 145.1 , Gulf of Gonâve 6.0 35.0 , Ryukyu Islands 6.8 35.0 , southeast New Ireland 7.0 35.0 , Ryukyu Islands 6.9 35.0 , Araucanía Region 6.2 35.0 , Ryukyu Islands 6.5 35.0 Taiwan, east of 6.6 25.0

December

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , south of Shikoku 6.5 5.0 Greece, Aegean Sea 6.2 10.0 , Narino Department 5.3 0.0 300 people were killed and major damage was caused. 300 Turkestan ASSR, Sughd Region 6.5 20.0

References