This is a list of earthquakes in 1931. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused deaths, 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. In a stark contrast to 1930, many large and destructive earthquakes occurred during 1931. The largest and deadliest event was the magnitude 7.9 earthquake which caused major devastation to China in August. New Zealand saw its worst natural disaster in February. Iran and Nicaragua had many deaths from earthquakes in the first half of the year. Other interesting events happened in Texas and the United Kingdom with the largest quakes for these areas hitting this year.

Overall

By death toll

Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , Xinjiang Province 2 Azerbaijan SSR, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic 3 , Managua City 4 , Hawke's Bay, North Island 5 , Oaxaca 6 Albanian Kingdom, Korçë County 7 British Solomon Islands 8 , Saitama Prefecture, Honshu Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date = 1 , Xinjiang Province = 1 British Solomon Islands 2 , off the east coast of Honshu 3 British Solomon Islands = 4 , Oaxaca = 4 British Burma, Kachin State 5 , east of Kyushu = 6 , Hawke's Bay, North Island = 6 Russian SFSR, Primorsky Krai = 6 , Enggano Island = 7 , Manawatū-Whanganui = 7 , Banda Sea = 8 , south of Guam = 8 , Valparaíso Region = 8 Pakistan, Baluchistan Province = 9 north Atlantic Ocean = 9 , Xinjiang Province = 9 , Northern Mariana Islands = 10 , east of Enggano Island = 10 , Sandaun Province = 10 British Solomon Islands = 10 British Solomon Islands = 10 British Solomon Islands, south of Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Taiwan, east of 6.4 15.0 , off the coast of Jalisco 6.7 20.0 , Akita Prefecture, Honshu 6.0 140.0 Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka 6.5 35.0 , Oaxaca 7.6 35.0 The 1931 Oaxaca earthquake killing 114 people causing severe damage. 114 , northwest of the Ryukyu Islands 6.8 200.0 , Ninigo Islands 6.5 15.0 , Oaxaca 6.3 30.0 Aftershock. , Gulf of California 6.7 10.0 , north of Wetar 6.0 35.0 , Badakhshan Province 6.5 220.0 , Strait of Malacca 6.2 190.0 , off the southeast coast of Hokkaido 6.2 120.0 , Siargao 6.2 35.0 British Burma, Kachin State 7.6 15.0 1931 Myitkyina earthquake. Albanian Kingdom, Korçë County 5.8 33.0 90 people were killed and some damage was caused. 90 , south of Guam 7.2 15.0

February

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Hawke's Bay, North Island 7.4 35.0 The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake caused 256 deaths. 2 people were missing. Thousands of people were injured. Property damage costs were estimated at $900 million (2010 rates). This is currently the deadliest natural disaster to strike New Zealand as of 2019. Many aftershocks followed. 256 1,000+ , off the east coast of North Island 6.4 15.0 Aftershock. , east of Enggano Island 7.0 35.0 , east of Enggano Island 6.4 35.0 Aftershock. Taiwan, north of 6.0 35.0 , Manawatū-Whanganui, North Island 7.3 45.0 Doublet earthquake with previous event on February 2. , southern Sumatra 6.6 15.0 Aftershock. , southern Hokkaido 6.3 25.0 , northeast of Enggano Island 6.5 35.0 Aftershock. Russian SFSR, Primorsky Krai 7.4 365.0 , Flores Sea 6.0 100.0 , Molucca Sea 6.5 35.0

March

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Russian SFSR, south of Sakhalin 6.5 330.0 , southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia 6.7 70.0 , north of Simeulue 6.0 35.0 Greece, Central Macedonia 6.0 35.0 , Lake Nicaragua 6.0 80.0 Yugoslavia, Southeastern Statistical Region 6.6 10.0 , off the east coast of Honshu 7.8 35.0 , Banda Sea 6.0 35.0 , Volcano Islands 6.7 35.0 , Valparaíso Region 7.2 35.0 , south of Mindanao 6.7 35.0 , off the west coast of Luzon 6.7 15.0 Some damage was reported. , Banda Sea 7.3 100.0 , Hokkaido 6.8 80.0 , Jinotega Department 5.6 0.0 The 1931 Nicaragua earthquake caused major destruction in the area. 2,450 deaths were reported. Property damage costs were $15 million (1931 rate). 2,450

April

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Banda Sea 6.0 130.0 , off the north coast 6.2 35.0 , Tucumán Province 6.2 180.0 Fiji, south of 6.8 630.0 , southwest of Bougainville Island 6.5 35.0 , Papua (province) 6.0 35.0 Russian SFSR, southern Kuril Islands 6.2 35.0 , southwest of Bougainville Island 6.7 15.0 Azerbaijan SSR, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic 6.5 15.0 The 1931 Zangezur earthquake caused major damage. 2,890 deaths were reported. 2,890

May

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Barinas (state) 6.2 35.0 Russian SFSR, Kamchatka Krai 6.5 50.0 , Oaxaca 6.2 35.0 north Atlantic Ocean 7.1 10.0 , off the coast of Atacama Region 6.2 35.0 , Dinagat Islands 6.2 35.0 , off the coast of Tarapacá Region 6.5 120.0

June

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , East New Britain Province 6.2 35.0 , Gifu Prefecture, Honshu 6.5 260.0 , Banda Sea 6.5 150.0 , off the east coast of England 6.1 23.0 The 1931 Dogger Bank earthquake was one of the strongest recorded in the United Kingdom. Some damage was reported. , off the east coast of Honshu 6.0 35.0 , Ica Region 6.0 35.0 , Tokyo, Honshu 6.0 35.0 , Morobe Province 6.5 140.0 , off the east coast of Honshu 6.4 25.0 , off the south coast of Honshu 6.5 380.0 , Coquimbo Region 6.0 35.0

July

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Ucayali Region 6.2 120.0 , northeast of Ticao Island 6.5 15.0 Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk 6.2 35.0 , Oaxaca 6.2 35.0 , Antofagasta Region 6.8 110.0 Russian SFSR, off the east coast of Kamchatka 6.3 15.0 Western Samoa Trust Territory 6.5 80.0 6.2 55.0 , southern Bougainville Island 6.8 400.0

August

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Russian SFSR, Sea of Okhotsk 6.5 400.0 Russian SFSR, Buryatia 6.0 35.0 , Sandaun Province 7.0 35.0 , Xinjiang Province 7.9 10.0 10,000 people died in the 1931 Fuyun earthquake. Countless homes were destroyed in the area. 10,000 , Badakhshan Province 6.0 240.0 , southwestern Texas 6.5 10.0 The 1931 Valentine earthquake is the largest in Texas history. , Xinjiang Province 7.1 10.0 Aftershock. Pakistan, Balochistan, Pakistan 6.8 10.0 Foreshock. Pakistan, Balochistan, Pakistan 7.2 10.0 Major damage was caused.

September

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the east coast of Honshu 6.2 35.0 , Northern Mariana Islands 7.1 167.5 Russian SFSR, Kamchatka Peninsula 6.0 35.0 , off the west coast 6.2 35.0 , Yamanashi Prefecture, Honshu 6.0 35.0 , Saitama Prefecture, Honshu 6.5 15.0 16 people were killed and some damage was reported. 16 South China Sea 6.7 25.0 , Gisborne Region, North Island 6.8 90.0 , Enggano Island 7.4 35.0 Some damage was caused by the 1931 Southwest Sumatra earthquake. , northeast of Enggano Island 6.0 35.0 Aftershock. , San Marcos Department 6.0 60.0 , Molucca Sea 6.0 35.0

October

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Gulf of California 6.0 35.0 British Solomon Islands 7.9 15.0 The earthquake caused some damage however a destructive tsunami was triggered. The waves resulted in 50 deaths and many homes being destroyed. Several strong aftershocks followed. 50 British Solomon Islands, south of 7.0 15.0 Aftershock. British Solomon Islands 7.0 15.0 Aftershock. British Solomon Islands 7.0 15.0 Aftershock. , Badakhshan Province 6.8 200.0 British Solomon Islands 7.7 15.0 This was to the north of the October 3 event. British Solomon Islands 6.8 35.0 Aftershock. British Solomon Islands 6.8 15.0 Aftershock. British Solomon Islands 6.8 15.0 Aftershock. Russian SFSR, far northern Sea of Okhotsk 6.4 35.0 , off the south coast 6.0 35.0 Fiji, south of 6.8 485.0 , north of Luzon 6.2 25.0 , Northern Mariana Islands 6.5 520.0

November

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , east of Kyushu 6.5 35.0 Foreshock. , Oaxaca 6.6 35.0 , east of Kyushu 7.5 35.0 1 person died and 14 homes were destroyed. 1 , Gulf Province 6.5 15.0 , Iwate Prefecture, Honshu 6.0 35.0 , Xinjiang Province 6.4 10.0 British Solomon Islands, Makira 6.7 15.0

References