List of earthquakes in 1957

This is a list of earthquakes in 1957. 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. The very active year started its major activity with a magnitude 8.6 earthquake in Alaska in March. This event was one of the largest on record in the United States and was followed by an energetic aftershock sequence which resulted in 6 aftershocks measuring greater than magnitude 7.0. Mongolia was affected by the strong 1957 Mongolia earthquake. Turkey and especially Iran had several earthquakes with high death tolls.

Overall

By death toll

Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 Iran, Hamadan province 2 Iran, Mazandaran province 3 Iran, Fars province 4 Mexico, Guerrero 5 Turkey, Duzce Province 6 Mongolia, Bayankhongor Province 7 Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province 8 Tunisia, Kef Governorate 9 Taiwan, Hualien City Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 2 Mongolia, Bayankhongor Province 3 United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands 4 Bolivia, Potosi Department = 5 Mexico, Guerrero = 5 Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka, Russia = 6 Soviet Union, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia = 6 United Kingdom, Fiji 7 Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province = 8 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska = 8 Philippines, southeast of Mindanao = 8 Sea of Okhotsk = 9 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) = 9 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska = 9 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska = 9 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) = 9 Indonesia, Banda Sea = 9 Tonga = 9 Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province = 9 Turkey, Duzce Province = 9 Indonesia, eastern Yapen = 10 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska = 10 United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska = 10 New Zealand, Kermadec Islands Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.4 20.0 Series of events that struck the Fox Islands began with this event. United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.7 20.0 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.6 20.0 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.0 Unknown depth. United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.7 20.0 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.5 20.0 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.1 25.0 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.4 25.0 China, Heilongjiang 6.9 581.0 Japan, south of Honshu 6.5 357.6 United Kingdom, Fiji 6.5 622.9 Peru, off the coast of central 6.2 20.0 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.0 45.0

February

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka 6.4 15.0 Mongolia, Selenge Province 6.4 10.0 Philippines, northeast of Mindanao 6.6 20.0 Start of a series. Philippines, northeast of Mindanao 6.7 20.0 Philippines, northeast of Mindanao 6.6 20.0 Philippines, northeast of Mindanao 6.2 15.0 Philippines, northeast of Mindanao 6.2 15.0 Peru, off the coast of central 6.6 77.0 Greece, south of 6.0 15.0 Tunisia, Kef Governorate 5.5 15.0 13 people were killed and 96 were injured. Some damage was caused. 13 96 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.8 104.1 Taiwan, Hualien City 6.9 55.0 11 deaths were caused and many people were injured. Some damage was caused. 11

March

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured United Kingdom, Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica 6.2 20.0 Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea 6.1 23.2 Greece, Thessaly 6.5 10.0 rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. Greece, Thessaly 6.4 10.0 2 101+ Greece, Thessaly 6.0 15.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 8.6 25.0 The 1957 Andreanof Islands earthquake was one of the largest events of the 20th Century. A robust aftershock sequence followed and to prevent cluttering only magnitude 6.5+ events will be listed. The earthquake caused fairly minor damage. A tsunami caused widespread destruction on Hawaii with $5 million worth of damage being reported. 2 people were killed and 1 person was hurt. 2 1 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.9 25.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.6 25.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.6 33.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.5 25.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.8 15.0 Aftershock. United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 7.1 35.0 Aftershock. Indonesia, off the west coast of northern Sumatra 6.2 35.0 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 7.0 25.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.5 35.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.5 25.0 Aftershock. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 7.1 20.0 Aftershock. Felt on Adak and Umnak Islands. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.6 25.0 Aftershock. New Zealand, Manawatu-Whanganui, North Island 6.5 270.0 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 7.1 25.0 Aftershock. Felt on Adak Island. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 7.2 25.0 Aftershock. Felt on Adak Island. United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.8 15.0 Aftershock. Mexico, off the coast of Chiapas 6.0 25.0 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 7.1 46.6 United States, San Francisco, California 5.3 0.0 1 person was killed and 40 were injured in the 1957 San Francisco earthquake. Some damage was caused with costs of $1 million (1957 rate). 1 40 Indonesia, Banda Sea 7.1 127.2 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.8 25.0 Aftershock.

April

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured United States, Alaska Peninsula 6.0 100.3 United Kingdom, south of Fiji 6.5 92.1 Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province) 6.3 15.0 Panama, Chiriqui Province 6.0 20.0 Japan, south of Honshu 6.8 453.3 Mexico, off the coast of Oaxaca 6.1 15.0 United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska 6.7 15.0 Philippines, south of Mindanao 6.0 75.0 South Africa, Orange Free State 6.4 0.0 Unknown depth. China, western Xizang Province 6.4 15.0 Tonga 7.1 20.0 Indonesia, Java Sea 6.9 596.3 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.5 14.5 Aftershock of March 9 event. Australia, off the east coast of mainland Papua and New Guinea 6.2 35.0 Colombia, Boyaca Department 6.6 25.0 China, western Xizang Province 6.0 15.0 Aftershock of April 14 event. Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province 7.1 35.0 rowspan="2"| 1957 Fethiye earthquakes. Doublet earthquake. 18 people were killed and 92 were injured. 3,000 homes were destroyed and 5,000 were damaged. Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province 7.3 35.0 18 92 Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province 6.0 25.0 Philippines, east of Mindanao 6.2 50.0

May

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Indonesia, Papua (province) 6.1 20.0 Colombia, Valle del Cauca Department 6.1 52.3 Turkey, Duzce Province 7.1 25.0 The 1957 Abant earthquake left 52 people dead and caused major damage. 52 Turkey, Sakarya Province 6.0 15.0 Aftershock. Tonga 6.1 25.0 Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province 6.4 572.9

June

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured United Kingdom, Fiji 6.4 589.2 Indonesia, Sumbawa 6.5 132.8 United States, west of Guam 6.8 133.8 China, Shanxi 5.0 0.0 A few homes were destroyed. New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 6.6 62.5 Philippines, off the west coast of Luzon 6.5 45.0 United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska 6.8 19.1 Indonesia, eastern Yapen 7.1 59.1 Major damage was caused. Soviet Union, Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia 7.4 25.0 Some damage was caused.

July

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured India, Manipur 6.2 65.0 Iran, Mazandaran province 6.6 15.0 During the 1957 Sangchal earthquake, 1,100 people were killed and major damage was reported. 1,100 Indonesia, off the west coast of southern Sumatra 6.0 65.0 Australia, southern Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea 6.1 40.0 Guatemala, Suchitepequez Department 6.0 115.0 Indonesia, Sunda Strait 6.0 39.9 Panama, south of 6.3 20.0 New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 7.0 204.1 New Zealand, Kermadec Islands 6.5 50.0 Aftershock. Tonga 6.0 25.0 United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands 6.4 119.8 Taiwan, off the east coast of 6.1 105.7 Chile, Coquimbo Region 6.0 50.0 , Vanuatu 6.1 25.0 Mexico, Guerrero 7.6 37.8 65 people were killed in the 1957 Guerrero earthquake. Many homes were destroyed. Damage costs were at least $25 million (1957 rate). 65 Chile, off the coast of Antofagasta Region 6.5 15.0

August

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Australia, off the north coast of Papua and New Guinea 6.1 15.0 Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province) 6.2 15.0 , Vanuatu 6.1 20.0 Philippines, east of Masbate Island 6.5 20.0 Mexico, off the coast of Guerrero 6.0 20.0 Aftershock of July event. Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia 6.5 57.4 United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 6.5 15.0 United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.1 25.0 rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.1 25.0 Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia 6.5 100.0 Australia, off the west coast of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea 6.5 87.7 Taiwan, off the east coast of 6.0 20.0 Bolivia, Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia) 6.3 15.0 Ecuador, off the coast of 6.3 15.0

September

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province 6.1 211.8 Pakistan, Balochistan, Pakistan 6.0 0.0 Unknown depth. Portugal, Manica Province, Mozambique 6.0 0.0 Unknown depth. Honduras, north of 6.1 21.0 Philippines, southeast of Mindanao 7.3 35.0 New Zealand, Cook Strait 6.0 128.0 Japan, south of Honshu 6.8 461.4 United Kingdom, Fiji 7.4 586.6

October

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Venezuela, off the coast of Sucre (state) 6.4 23.3 Venezuela, off the coast of Sucre (state) 6.0 15.0 Aftershock. Indonesia, south of Java 6.0 50.0 Taiwan, Hualien County 6.8 30.0 Japan, northeast of Hokkaido 6.6 153.8 , Vanuatu 6.0 20.0 Mexico, Gulf of California 6.2 15.0 Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia 6.4 50.1 Indonesia, East Kalimantan 6.1 20.0 Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka, Russia 7.6 147.8

November

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Vanuatu 6.2 85.0 United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 6.2 25.0 Australia, Morobe Province, Papua and New Guinea 6.0 20.0 Japan, off the south coast of Honshu 6.2 15.0 New Zealand, south of the Kermadec Islands 6.5 30.0 Philippines, western Mindanao 6.3 80.0 Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia 6.1 75.0 Sea of Okhotsk 7.2 355.9 Indonesia, East Kalimantan 6.1 20.0 rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. Indonesia, East Kalimantan 6.0 45.0 Bolivia, Potosi Department 7.7 232.5

December

+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Mongolia, Bayankhongor Province 8.1 30.0 The 1957 Mongolia earthquake left 30 people dead and some damage in the area. 30 Mongolia, Ovorhangai Province 6.1 15.0 Aftershock. Australia, off the west coast of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea 6.6 25.0 Colombia, Antioquia Department 6.5 52.6 Iran, Hamadan province 6.5 15.0 The 1957 Farsinaj earthquake caused 1,200 deaths and heavy destruction. 1,200 Canada, off the west coast of Vancouver Island 6.1 15.0 Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka 6.7 26.0 United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands 7.8 123.6 Venezuela, Gulf of Paria 6.1 15.0 Bolivia, Santa Cruz Department (Bolivia) 6.1 15.0

References