This is a list of earthquakes in 1917 . 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. This year was marked by many earthquakes which caused deaths or damage across a number of countries.
Rank
Death toll
Magnitude
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
2,650
6.0
Guatemala , Guatemala Department
( )
0.0
December 26
2
1,800
6.9
China , Sichuan Province
IX (Violent )
15.0
July 30
3
1,500
6.6
Dutch East Indies , Kangean Islands
IX (Violent )
0.0
January 20
= 4
101
6.3
China , Anhui Province
VIII (Severe )
20.0
January 24
= 4
101
6.7
El Salvador , La Libertad Department, El Salvador
( )
0.0
June 8
5
54
6.5
Taiwan , off south coast of Pingtung County
( )
0.0
January 4
Note : At least 10 casualties
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
8.5
2
Western Samoa Trust Territory , southwest of Samoa
( )
15.0
June 26
2
8.2
0
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands
( )
15.0
May 1
3
8.0
0
Russia , off the east coast of Kamchatka
( )
20.0
January 30
= 4
7.5
0
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands
( )
35.0
November 16
= 4
7.5
0
New Guinea , Sandaun Province
( )
35.0
July 29
= 5
7.4
0
United States , south of the Alaska Peninsula
V (Moderate )
35.0
May 31
= 5
7.4
0
Sea of Japan
( )
500.0
July 31
= 6
7.3
0
Dutch East Indies , Barat Daya Islands
( )
100.0
August 30
= 7
7.2
0
Cuba , south of
( )
0.0
February 20
= 7
7.2
0
Taiwan , northeast of
( )
0.0
July 4
= 8
7.1
0
Afghanistan , Badakhshan Province
( )
220.0
April 21
= 8
7.1
6
Colombia , Meta Department
VIII (Severe )
0.0
August 31
= 8
7.1
0
Dutch East Indies , northern Sumatra
( )
0.0
November 4
= 9
7.0
0
Taiwan , northeast of
( )
0.0
July 4
= 9
7.0
0
Japan , off east coast of Honshu
( )
0.0
July 29
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
February Strongest magnitude 7.2 Mw Cuba Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
15 [ 11]
Chile , off the coast of Coquimbo Region
6.8
0.0
Depth unknown.
20 [ 12]
Cuba , south of
7.2
0.0
Depth unknown.
March Strongest magnitude 6.9 Mw Japan Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
15 [ 13]
Japan , off the east coast of Honshu
6.9
0.0
Depth unknown.
April Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Afghanistan Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 1
May Strongest magnitude 8.2 Mw New Zealand Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 0
July Strongest magnitude 7.4 Mw 2 events Deadliest 6.9 Mw China 1,800 deaths Total fatalities 1,800 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 5 6.0–6.9 2
November Strongest magnitude 7.5 Mw New Zealand Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 0
December Strongest magnitude 6.9 Mw Mexico Total fatalities 2,650 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 2
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
26 [ 38]
Guatemala , Guatemala Department
6.0
0.0
Further destructive events took place into January 1918. In total the series caused 2,650 deaths. Major damage was caused with Guatemala City being hardest hit. Depth unknown.
2,650
29 [ 39]
Mexico , off the coast of Oaxaca
6.9
20.0
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. January 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: TAIWAN: PULI" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. January 6, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: INDONESIA: BALI" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 20, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 6.3 – Anhui, China" . United States Geological Survey. January 24, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: ANHUI PROVINCE:" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 24, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: FUJIAN PROVINCE: OFF COAST" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 25, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Tsunami Event: SOUTH CHINA SEA" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 25, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 8.0 – near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia" . United States Geological Survey. January 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: S MINDANAO: GLAN,GLAN PADIDU,TUYAN" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. February 15, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. February 20, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. March 15, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. April 21, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 6.5 – Buryatiya, Russia" . United States Geological Survey. April 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 8.2 – Kermadec Islands region" . United States Geological Survey. May 1, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 7.4 – south of Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. May 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ALASKA: ALASKA PENINSULA" . National Geophysical Data Center . May 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: EL SALVADOR: SAN SALVADOR" . National Geophysical Data Center . June 8, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. June 24, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 8.0 – Samoa Islands region" . United States Geological Survey. June 26, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: SAMOA ISLANDS" . National Geophysical Data Center . June 26, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Tsunami Event: SAMOA ISLANDS" . National Geophysical Data Center . June 26, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. July 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. July 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. July 27, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. July 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 7.5 – New Guinea, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey. July 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 6.9 – eastern Sichuan, China" . United States Geological Survey. July 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. July 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 6.6 – off the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand" . United States Geological Survey. August 5, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. August 30, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. August 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: COLOMBIA: BOGOTA, UBAQUE, SOACHA, CAQUEZA" . National Geophysical Data Center . August 31, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. November 4, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. November 16, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: GUATEMALA: GUATEMALA CITY" . National Geophysical Data Center . December 26, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .
^ "M 6.9 – offshore Oaxaca, Mexico" . United States Geological Survey. December 29, 1917. Retrieved December 5, 2015 .