Earthquakes in 2008 resulted in about 88,011 fatalities. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake was the deadliest with 87,587 fatalities, and also the largest at 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale . Other significant earthquakes struck Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Japan, Colombia, and other parts of China.
Earthquakes in 2008 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 2008
Strongest magnitude 7.9 Mw , China Deadliest 7.9 Mw , China 87,587 deaths Total fatalities 88,011 9.0+ 0 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 12 6.0–6.9 168 5.0–5.9 1768
Compared to other years
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Number of Earthquakes Worldwide for 1999–2009 Magnitude Ranging Between 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 8−9.9 0 1 1 0 1 2 1 2 4 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 7−7.9 18 14 15 13 14 14 10 9 13 12 16 21 19 15 17 11 18 6−6.9 118 145 121 126 140 141 140 142 178 168 144 151 204 129 125 144 124 5−5.9 1057 1335 1215 1171 1203 1515 1693 1712 2074 1768 1896 1963 2271 1412 1402 1577 1413 Total 1193 1495 1352 1310 1358 1672 1844 1865 2270 1948 2057 2136 2495 1558 1546 1733 1556
Note that an increase in detected earthquake numbers does not necessarily represent an increase in earthquakes per se. Population increase, habitation spread, and advances in earthquake detection technology all contribute to higher earthquake numbers being recorded over time. USGS's Website has more information.
For exact dates and live earthquakes please visit USGS's Global Earthquake Search Page and Real-time Earthquake Map or EMSC's Real-time Seismicity .
Rank
Death toll
Magnitude
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
87,587
7.9
China , Sichuan
XI (Extreme )
19.0
May 12
2
215
6.4
Pakistan , Balochistan
VIII (Severe )
10.0
October 29
3
75
6.6
Kyrgyzstan , Osh
VII (Very strong )
27.6
October 5
4
44
5.9
DR Congo , Lake Kivu
VIII (Severe )
10.0
February 3
5
41
6.1
China , Sichuan
VI (Strong )
10.0
August 30
6
23
6.9
Japan , Honshu
IX (Violent )
8.0
June 13
7
13
5.8
Russia , Dagestan
VII (Very strong )
20.0
October 11
8
11
5.9
Colombia , El Calvario
VII (Very strong )
35.0
May 24
9
10
6.4
China , Tibet
VII (Very strong )
10.0
October 6
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
7.9
87,587
China , Sichuan
XI (Extreme )
19.0
May 12
2
7.7
0
Russia , Sea of Okhotsk
III (Weak )
632.8
July 5
3
7.4
3
Indonesia , Simeulue
VIII (Severe )
25.0
February 20
3
7.4
6
Indonesia , Sulawesi
VII (Very strong )
21.0
November 16
5
7.3
0
Russia , Sea of Okhotsk
III (Weak )
632.0
May 12
5
7.3
0
New Caledonia , Loyalty Islands
VII (Very strong )
33.0
April 9
7
7.2
0
Indonesia , Sumatra
VI (Strong )
28.0
February 25
7
7.2
0
China , Xinjiang
VIII (Severe )
15.0
March 20
9
7.1
0
Australia , Macquarie Island
V (Moderate )
16.0
April 12
10
7.0
0
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
VII (Very strong )
8.0
June 30
10
7.0
0
Japan , Honshu
VIII (Severe )
22.0
July 19
10
7.0
0
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands
V (Moderate )
36.0
September 29
Note : At least 7.0 Magnitude
January Strongest magnitude 6.6 Canada Deadliest 4.6 Algeria Indonesia Total fatalities 2 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 14 5.0–5.9 110
Papua New Guinea on January 1.[ 1] Sumatra , Indonesia on January 4.[ 2] Haida Gwaii , Canada on January 5.[ 3] Haida Gwaii , Canada on January 5.[ 4] Greece on January 6.[ 5] Papua , Indonesia on January 7. Six people were injured and 22 homes were damaged.[ 6] Tibet , China on January 9.[ 7] Algeria on January 9. One person was killed and several homes were damaged.[ 8] [ 9] Haida Gwaii , Canada on January 9.[ 10] Oregon on January 10.[ 11] Fiji on January 15.[ 12] Molucca Sea on January 20.[ 13] Tonga on January 22.[ 14] Tonga on January 22.[ 15] Sumatra , Indonesia on January 22. One person died, five others were injured and several homes were damaged in Gunungsitoli .[ 16] [ 9] [ 17] Banda Sea on January 30.[ 18] February Strongest magnitude 7.4 Indonesia Total fatalities 49 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 18 5.0–5.9 146
magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Lake Kivu , Democratic Republic of the Congo on February 3, killing 44 people.[ 19] Tarapaca , Chile on February 4.[ 20] Bengal , India on February 6, killing 1 person.[ 9] A magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred in the Northern Atlantic Ocean on February 8.[ 21]
South Sandwich Islands on February 10.[ 22] Oaxaca , Mexico on February 12.[ 23] Rwanda on February 14, killing 1 person.[ 9] Greece on February 14.[ 24] Svalbard on February 21.[ 25] Nevada on February 21.[ 26] South Shetland Islands on February 23.[ 27] magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Sumatra , Indonesia on February 20, killing 3 people.[ 28] Sumatra , Indonesia on February 25.[ 29] magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Lincolnshire , Great Britain on February 27, injuring 1 person.March Strongest magnitude 7.2 China Total fatalities 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 14 5.0–5.9 147
April Strongest magnitude 7.3 New Caledonia Total fatalities 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 19 5.0–5.9 163
May Strongest magnitude 7.9 China Total fatalities 87,587 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 12 5.0–5.9 175
July Strongest magnitude 7.7 Russia Total fatalities 4 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 12 5.0–5.9 124
August Strongest magnitude 6.7 China Total fatalities 54 6.0–6.9 16 5.0–5.9 153
Banda Sea on August 4.[ 30] Sichuan , China on August 5, killing 4 people.[ 9] Antarctica on August 9.[ 30] Antarctica on August 9.[ 30] Andaman Islands on August 10.[ 30] A magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the South Atlantic Ocean on August 11.[ 30]
Philippines on August 15.[ 30] Samoa on August 19.[ 30] magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Yingjiang , China on August 21, killing 5 people. Rodrigues , Mauritius on August 22.[ 30] Tibet , China on August 25.[ 30] Peru on August 26.[ 30] Irkutsk , Russia on August 27.[ 30] A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred in the South Atlantic Ocean on August 28.[ 30]
Papua New Guinea on August 31.[ 30] magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Sichuan , China on August 30, killing 43 people. Sichuan , China on August 31, killing 2 people.[ 9] September Strongest magnitude 7.0 New Zealand Total fatalities 10 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 11 5.0–5.9 138
^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.6 – QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "M 5.9 – 9 km NW of Manokwari, Indonesia" .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "M 4.6 – 6 km SE of Es Senia, Algeria" .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Deaths from Earthquakes in 2008" . United States Geological Survey. 2012-10-30. Archived from the original on 2015-10-03. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "M 6.2 – 146 km SSW of Singkil, Indonesia" .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC)" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 5.9 – LAC KIVU REGION, DEM. REP. OF THE CONGO" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.3 – TARAPACA, CHILE" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.9 – NORTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.6 – SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.5 – OAXACA, MEXICO" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.9 – SOUTHERN GREECE" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ Aftenposten: Kraftigste jordskjelvet i Norge i moderne tid Archived 2010-01-22 at the Wayback Machine , 21. February 2008^ "Magnitude 6.0 – NEVADA" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.8 – SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 7.4 – SIMEULUE, INDONESIA" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 7.2 – KEPULAUAN MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "Search Earthquake Archives" . United States Geological Survey. 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.9 – PHILIPPINE ISLANDS REGION" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.4 – VANUATU" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 7.2 – XINJIANG-XIZANG BORDER REGION" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 7.3 – LOYALTY ISLANDS" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 7.1 – MACQUARIE ISLAND REGION" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.6 – ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "The São Vicente earthquake of 2008 April and seismicity in thecontinental shelf off SE Brazil: further evidence for flexural stresses" .^ "Magnitude 6.6 – ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS., ALASKA" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ a b "気象庁 | 日本付近で発生した主な被害地震（平成８年〜平成24年８月）" . Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2013 .^ "Magnitude 6.8 – NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.7 – GUAM REGION" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.4 – GREECE" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 6.9 – EASTERN HONSHU, JAPAN" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. 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United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .^ "Magnitude 7.0 – KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND" . United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2010-01-14. Retrieved 2015-10-01 .
.svg)
China
Pakistan, Balochistan
Kyrgyzstan, Osh
DR Congo, Lake Kivu
Japan, Honshu
Russia, Dagestan
Colombia, El Calvario
Indonesia, Simeulue
New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands
Australia, Macquarie Island
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
New Zealand, Kermadec Islands
Canada
Algeria
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on January 1.[1]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Sumatra, Indonesia on January 4.[2]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Haida Gwaii, Canada on January 5.[3]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Greece on January 6.[5]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Tibet, China on January 9.[7]
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Northern Algeria on January 9. One person was killed and several homes were damaged.[8][9]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Oregon on January 10.[11]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Fiji on January 15.[12]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Tonga on January 22.[14]
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Lake Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo on February 3, killing 44 people.[19]
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Tarapaca, Chile on February 4.[20]
A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck West Bengal, India on February 6, killing 1 person.[9]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the South Sandwich Islands on February 10.[22]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico on February 12.[23]
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Rwanda on February 14, killing 1 person.[9]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Svalbard on February 21.[25]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Nevada on February 21.[26]
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the South Shetland Islands on February 23.[27]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands on March 3.[30]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck offshore Luzon, Philippines on March 3.[30]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Vanuatu on March 12.[32]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Prince Edward Islands on March 13.[30]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck offshore the Ogasawara Islands on March 14.[30]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Kermadec Islands on March 18.[30]
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Aleutian Islands on March 22.[30]
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck New Caledonia on April 9.[30]
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Macquarie Island on April 12.[35]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck offshore Guatemala on April 15.[30]
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Illinois on April 18.
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Taiwan on April 23.[30]
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Brazil on April 23[37]
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Guam on May 9.[41]
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Colombia on May 24, killing 11 people.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Iceland on May 29, injuring 30 people.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Southern Peru on July 8, killing one person.[9]
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Santa Cruz Islands on July 19.[49]
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck offshore Antarctica on August 9.[30]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Samoa on August 19.[30]
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck offshore Rodrigues, Mauritius on August 22.[30]
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Iran on September 10, killing 7 people.[9]
Nura (6.6, October 5)
Balochistan (6.4, October 29)
Skåne County (4.3, December 16)
Parma (5.2, December 23)
