This is a list of earthquakes in 1939. 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. 1939 was one of the deadliest years for earthquakes with over 60,000 deaths. Two major events resulted in this being the case. In January, a quake struck Chile causing 30,000 deaths, and in December Turkey was shaken by a quake which left 32,700 dead. Several other events occurred in Japan, Peru, Turkey and Ghana which left some fatalities.

Overall

By death toll

Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , Erzincan Province 2 , Biobío Region 3 , İzmir Province 4 , Madre de Dios Region 5 , off the coast of Akita Prefecture, Honshu 6 , Central Region (Gold Coast) 7 , Erzincan Province 8 British Solomon Islands Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , Biobío Region 2 , Gulf of Tomini = 3 , south of Bougainville Island = 3 British Solomon Islands = 3 , Erzincan Province 4 southern Indian Ocean = 5 , Atacama Region = 5 6 , Alajuela Province = 7 = 7 8 , Near Islands, Alaska = 9 British Solomon Islands = 9 = 9 Russian SFSR, off the coast of Primorski Krai = 9 , off the coast of Akita Prefecture, Honshu = 9 , Gulf of California = 9 , off the east coast of Honshu Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , south of 5.3 0.0 Major damage was reported. Depth unknown. , Coquimbo Region 6.2 70.0 , off the south coast of 6.5 70.0 , off the east coast of 6.2 35.0 , Santiago del Estero Province 6.0 580.0 , Biobío Region 8.3 35.0 The 1939 Chillán earthquake was one of the worst in Chilean history. 30,000 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed and damage costs were around $920 million (1939 rate). 30,000+ , south of Bougainville Island 7.8 35.0 5 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Many homes were destroyed. 5 101+ , off the east coast of 6.5 200.0

February

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured British Solomon Islands 7.0 15.0 , east of Mindanao 6.0 100.0 , off the east coast of Honshu 6.6 35.0 , south of Alaska Peninsula 6.3 79.0

March

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , East Sepik Province 6.0 35.0 , off the west coast of Bougainville Island 6.3 35.0 , eastern Kyushu 6.7 25.0 A tsunami was generated. 1 person died and a home was destroyed. 1 south Indian Ocean 7.5 15.0

April

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured 7.0 30.0 , Atacama Region 7.4 35.0 , off the south coast of South Island 6.0 35.0 Russian SFSR, Primorski Krai 7.0 530.0 , Junin Region 6.2 150.0 British Solomon Islands 7.8 15.0 A tsunami resulted in 12 deaths and some damage. The earthquake also caused the destruction of some homes. 12

May

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the coast of Akita Prefecture, Honshu 7.0 10.0 27 deaths were caused as well as 52 injuries. 479 homes were destroyed. 27 52 , off the coast of Akita Prefecture, Honshu 6.5 10.0 Aftershock. , Gulf of California 7.0 10.0 , north of Mindoro 6.5 110.0 , east of the Azores 6.7 10.0 , Volcano Islands 6.5 35.0 , Oruro Department 6.2 100.0 , , border region 6.2 35.0 Russian SFSR, Buryatia 6.0 35.0 , Papua (province) 6.3 25.0 India, Manipur 6.1 65.7

June

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Talaud Islands 6.5 35.0 , Savu Sea 6.2 80.0 7.2 100.0 , Papua (province) 6.3 15.0 , Molucca Sea 6.7 150.0 , off the east coast of 6.5 70.0 , Central Region (Gold Coast) 6.4 15.0 This was a rare event for the area. 22 people were killed and 130 were hurt. 1,500 homes were destroyed. 22 130 , Madre de Dios Region 0.0 0.0 37 deaths were caused as well as some damage. The magnitude and depth were unknown. , east of Mindanao 6.6 35.0

July

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Chuquisaca Department 6.6 275.0 Fiji 6.7 650.0 , Papua (province) 6.5 20.0 Russian SFSR, Commander Islands 6.5 60.0 Fiji 6.8 635.0

August

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Russian SFSR, Kuril Islands 6.5 140.0 7.2 180.0 6.5 55.0 , Unimak Island, Alaska 6.3 75.0 , southeast of New Ireland (island) 6.6 90.0 6.5 280.0

September

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Near Islands, Alaska 7.1 15.0 , Yunnan Province 5.5 0.0 2 people died and some homes collapsed. The depth was unknown. 2 Greece, Ionian Sea 6.5 80.0 , Junin Region 6.0 60.0 , İzmir Province 6.3 35.0 41 people were killed and some damage was caused. 41 , Huehuetenango Department 6.2 110.0

October

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Potosí Department 6.0 240.0 , Banda Sea 6.5 35.0 , Arica y Parinacota Region 6.0 110.0 , off the east coast of Honshu 7.0 20.0 , Arequipa Region 0.0 120.0 Many homes were destroyed. The magnitude was unknown. 7.4 135.0 , off the south coast of 6.0 35.0 , southeast of Hokkaido 6.0 90.0 6.5 150.0

November

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Iran, Khuzestan Province 6.0 35.0 , Oro Province 6.2 35.0 , southwest of Bougainville Island 6.0 140.0 Russian SFSR, Kamchatka Peninsula 6.5 75.0 , Erzincan Province 5.9 80.0 13 people were killed and some damage was caused. 13 , Badakhshan Province 6.7 190.0 Some damage was caused.

December

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Retalhuleu Department 6.7 45.0 Russian SFSR, Kuril Islands 6.5 60.0 , Flores Sea 6.0 700.0 , Alajuela Province 7.3 25.0 , Gulf of Tomini 8.1 35.0 Many homes were destroyed. , off the west coast of 6.8 25.0 , Gulf of Tomini 6.2 125.0 Aftershock. , Usulután Department 6.0 75.0 , Erzincan Province 7.8 20.0 The 1939 Erzincan earthquake caused major destruction in the area. 32,700 people were killed. Damage costs were $20 million (1939 rate). Scores of homes were ruined. 32,700 , off the north coast of Papua (province) 6.5 80.0

References