This is a list of earthquakes in 1944. 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. Activity was spread across the world during this year. The southwest Pacific Islands saw a good proportion of the earthquakes. Japan had the largest event of the year in December. Argentina and Turkey had the bulk of the deaths. The quake in Argentina in January was the worst in the country's history. New York State had its largest recorded earthquake in September causing some damage.

Overall

By death toll

Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , San Juan Province, Argentina 2 , Cankiri Province 3 , off the south coast of Honshu 4 , off the west coast of Balıkesir Province Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , off the south coast of Honshu = 2 , Cankiri Province = 2 , West Papua (province), Dutch East Indies 3 , Lembata, Dutch East Indies 4 = 5 , eastern Kamchatka Krai, Russia = 5 , Vanuatu = 6 , East Sepik Province, New Guinea = 6 , southeast of Maldives = 6 , northern Xinjiang Province = 6 , north of New Ireland (island), New Guinea = 6 , Fox Islands, Alaska = 6 , Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands = 7 San Juan Province, Argentina = 7 , Puno Region = 7 , off the coast of Chiapas = 7 , Hokkaido = 7 , southeast of Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia = 7 , Vanuatu Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , southern Sumatra, Dutch East Indies 6.6 45.0 , East Sepik Province, New Guinea 7.1 114.4 , Guerrero 6.6 15.0 , San Juan Province, Argentina 7.0 15.0 The 1944 San Juan earthquake was the deadliest in Argentine history. 8,000 people were killed. Damage costs were $100 million (1944 rate). 8,000

February

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Cankiri Province 7.6 30.0 2,381 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1944 Bolu–Gerede earthquake. 2,381 , off the south coast of Hokkaido 6.6 160.0 , Yukon Territory 6.5 35.0 , Hualien County, Taiwan 6.5 20.0 , Puno Region 7.0 183.1 , southeast of Maldives 7.1 15.0

March

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , northern Xinjiang Province 6.9 10.0 rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. 3 people were killed and some homes collapsed. , northern Xinjiang Province 7.1 10.0 3 , Lembata, Dutch East Indies 7.5 156.6 , Banda Sea, Dutch East Indies 6.4 65.0

April

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Chontales Department 6.0 200.0 6.5 370.0 , off the north coast of West Papua (province), Dutch East Indies 6.8 15.0 Foreshock. , off the north coast of West Papua (province), Dutch East Indies 7.6 15.0

May

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Huila Department 6.0 100.0 7.3 632.7 , north of New Ireland (island), New Guinea 7.1 15.0 , Dodecanese Islands, Greece 6.2 100.0

June

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Ucayali Region 6.2 600.0 , southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia 6.8 35.0 , off the coast of Chiapas 7.0 25.0

July

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured 6.8 185.0 , southern Idaho 6.1 10.0 , Jujuy Province 6.0 250.0 , Fox Islands (Alaska) 7.1 70.0

August

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , southern Alaska 6.3 100.0 , Northern Mariana Islands 6.9 120.7 , Yamagata Prefecture, Honshu 6.9 131.8 , Chiapas 6.0 100.0 , Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu 6.8 25.0

September

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , northern New York State 5.5 12.0 The 1944 Cornwall-Massena earthquake caused $2 million (1944 rate) in property damage. This was the largest event in state history. , southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia 6.5 120.0 , Oromia Region 6.0 35.0 , Molucca Sea, Dutch East Indies 6.6 15.0 , south of Java, Dutch East Indies 6.8 35.0 , eastern Kamchatka Krai, Russia 7.2 35.0 , western Xinjiang Province 6.8 20.0 Some homes were destroyed.

October

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Jutiapa Department 6.5 160.0 , Hokkaido 7.0 75.0 , east of New Ireland (island), New Guinea 6.9 75.0 , southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia 7.0 120.0 , off the west coast of Balikesir Province 6.8 15.0 AT least 30 people were killed and 5,500 homes were destroyed during the 1944 Gulf of Edremit–Ayvacik earthquake. 30 6.8 15.0 , Halmahera, Dutch East Indies 6.6 15.0 , Tibet (1912-1951) 6.8 20.0 , Esmeraldas Province 6.7 20.0 , Tibet (1912-1951) 6.5 20.0 Aftershock of October 17 event.

November

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Talaud Islands, Dutch East Indies 6.8 60.0 , Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands 7.1 35.0 , Vanuatu 7.2 165.0 , Vanuatu 7.0 180.0 6.8 180.0

December

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Northern Mariana Islands 6.8 56.7 , off the south coast of Honshu 8.1 15.0 Major destruction was caused by the 1944 Tōnankai earthquake. 1,223 deaths and 2,135 injuries were caused. 26,146 homes were destroyed. A tsunami contributed to the damage. 1,223 2,135 , off the south coast of Honshu 6.5 0.0 Aftershock. , Vanuatu 6.6 15.0 , Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.5 35.0 , off the south coast of Honshu 6.7 0.0 Aftershock. , Liaoning Province 6.6 35.0 , southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia 6.5 100.0 , Antofagasta Region 6.5 45.3 , south of New Britain, New Guinea 6.5 35.0 , West New Britain Province, New Guinea 6.8 95.0

References