This is a list of earthquakes in 1929 . 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. Several large events occurred this year with the main focus of the activity being in Alaska with 4 magnitude 7.0 + events. The deadliest earthquake struck Turkmenistan in May with 3,800 of the years 3,972 deaths in this event. A rare earthquake struck the north Atlantic Ocean in November with the deaths of 28 in Canada being caused by a tsunami . Dutch East Indies was notably quiet this year.
Note : At least 10 casualties
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
8.1
0
United Kingdom , South Sandwich Islands
( )
15.0
June 27
= 2
7.8
0
United States , south of the Aleutian Islands , Alaska
V (Moderate )
15.0
March 7
= 2
7.8
0
United States , Near Islands , Alaska
( )
20.0
December 17
3
7.7
0
Russian SFSR , Kuril Islands
VII (Very strong )
160.0
January 13
= 4
7.3
0
Canada , south of Haida Gwaii
( )
15.0
May 26
= 4
7.3
17
New Zealand , Tasman District , South Island
( )
20.0
June 16
= 4
7.3
0
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
( )
35.0
July 7
= 5
7.2
3,800
Turkmen SSR , Ahal Province
( )
10.0
May 1
= 5
7.2
0
Philippines , Mindanao
X (Extreme )
35.0
June 13
= 5
7.2
28
Canada , south of Newfoundland
VI (Strong )
10.0
November 18
= 6
7.1
0
Afghanistan , Badakhshan Province
( )
200.0
February 1
= 6
7.1
0
central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
( )
10.0
February 2
= 6
7.1
0
northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge
( )
10.0
February 22
= 6
7.1
0
Philippines , southern Mindanao
( )
35.0
June 4
= 6
7.1
0
United States , Federated States of Micronesia , State of Yap
( )
10.0
November 15
= 7
7.0
0
New Zealand , Canterbury, New Zealand
( )
20.0
March 9
= 7
7.0
0
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
( )
35.0
July 5
= 7
7.0
0
Philippines , off the southeast coast of Mindanao
( )
35.0
November 17
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
January Strongest magnitude 7.7 Mw Russian SFSR Deadliest 6.7 Mw Venezuela 50 deaths Total fatalities 52 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 6 5.0–5.9 1
February Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw 3 events Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 3 6.0–6.9 4
March Strongest magnitude 7.8 Mw United States Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 3
April Strongest magnitude 6.6 Mw Philippines Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 2
May Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Canada Deadliest 7.2 Mw Turkmen SSR 3,800 deaths Total fatalities 3,864 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 6
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1 [ 28] [ 29]
Turkmen SSR , Ahal Province
7.2
10.0
Major damage was caused in the 1929 Kopet Dag earthquake . 3,800 people were killed.
3,800
7 [ 30]
Dutch East Indies , off the north coast of Papua (province)
6.5
25.0
18 [ 31]
Ethiopian Empire , Afar Region
6.0
35.0
18 [ 32] [ 33]
Turkey , Sivas Province
6.5
35.0
VIII
The 1929 Suşehri earthquake killed 64 people.
64
21 [ 34]
Japan , off the east coast of Kyushu
6.7
35.0
25 [ 35]
Peru , Ucayali Region
6.8
160.0
26 [ 36] [ 37] [ 38]
Canada , south of Haida Gwaii
7.3
15.0
Some damage was caused and a tsunami was observed.
30 [ 39]
Argentina , Mendoza Province
6.6
10.0
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
2 [ 40]
Japan , off the south coast of Honshu
6.9
350.4
3 [ 41]
Kazakh ASSR , Kyzylorda Region
6.5
35.0
4 [ 42]
Philippines , Davao Gulf , Mindanao
7.1
200.0
9 [ 43]
Russian SFSR , Kuril Islands
6.5
35.0
Foreshock to event on June 13.
12 [ 44]
New Guinea , East Sepik Province
6.6
120.0
13 [ 45]
Russian SFSR , Kuril Islands
6.9
35.0
13 [ 46] [ 47]
Philippines , Mindanao
7.2
35.0
X
Many homes were destroyed.
13 [ 48]
Philippines , east of Mindanao
6.4
35.0
Aftershock.
16 [ 49] [ 50]
New Zealand , Tasman District
7.3
20.0
17 people died in the 1929 Murchison earthquake . Many homes were destroyed.
17
19 [ 51]
Philippines , east of Mindanao
6.4
35.0
Aftershock.
20 [ 52]
Dutch East Indies , East Java
6.2
60.0
27 [ 53]
United Kingdom , South Sandwich Islands
8.1
15.0
30 [ 54]
Philippines , east of Mindanao
6.5
30.0
Aftershock.
July Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw United States Deadliest 6.2 Mw Iran 6 deaths Total fatalities 11 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 6 5.0–5.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
3 [ 55]
United States , central Alaska
6.2
35.0
4 [ 56]
United States , central Alaska
6.5
20.0
5 [ 57]
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
7.0
35.0
Foreshock.
5 [ 58]
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
6.5
25.0
Foreshock.
7 [ 59]
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
7.3
35.0
13 [ 60]
Iran , North Khorasan Province
5.8
57.0
5 people were killed and some damage was caused.
5
15 [ 61] [ 62]
Iran , Khuzestan Province
6.2
35.0
6 people died and some damage was caused.
6
23 [ 63] [ 64]
Iceland , Reykjavík
6.2
10.0
X
26 [ 65]
Japan , Yamanashi Prefecture , Honshu
6.5
60.0
August Strongest magnitude 6.6 Mw British Burma Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 4
September Strongest magnitude 6.5 Mw Iran Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 3
October Strongest magnitude 6.8 Mw Chile Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 7
December Strongest magnitude 7.8 Mw United States Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 13, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: RUSSIA: KURIL ISLANDS" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 13, 1929. Retrieved March 9, 2019 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: NEI MONGOL" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 13, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.2 – Luzon, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. January 16, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 – offshore Sucre, Venezuela" . United States Geological Survey. January 17, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: VENEZUELA: CUMANA" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 17, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: MYANMAR (BURMA): HTAWGAW" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 19, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 21, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 22, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 – offshore Guatemala" . United States Geological Survey. January 24, 1929. Retrieved March 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . February 1, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: AFGHANISTAN: HINDU KUSH" . National Geophysical Data Center . February 1, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 – central Mid-Atlantic Ridge" . United States Geological Survey. February 1, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . February 6, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 – offshore Guatemala" . United States Geological Survey. February 10, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . February 14, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 – northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge" . United States Geological Survey. February 22, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – Alaska Peninsula" . United States Geological Survey. February 26, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . March 3, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "M 7.8 – south of the Aleutian Islands" . United States Geological Survey. March 7, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: FOX ISLANDS" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 7, 1929. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
^ "Tsunami Event: FOX ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, AK" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 7, 1929. Retrieved March 13, 2019 .
^ "M 7.0 – South Island of New Zealand" . United States Geological Survey. March 9, 1929. Retrieved March 10, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . March 10, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – offshore Guatemala" . United States Geological Survey. March 21, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 8, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 17, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – Turkmenistan" . United States Geological Survey. May 1, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: IRAN: KOPET-DAGH" . National Geophysical Data Center . May 1, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. May 7, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 18, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 18, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: TURKEY: SUSEHRI" . National Geophysical Data Center . May 18, 1929. Retrieved March 16, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 – Kyushu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey. May 21, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 25, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – Haida Gwaii Region, Canada" . United States Geological Survey. May 26, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CANADA: QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS" . National Geophysical Data Center . May 26, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "Tsunami Event: BRITISH COLUMBIA" . National Geophysical Data Center . May 26, 1929. Retrieved March 14, 2019 .
^ "M 6.6 – Mendoza, Argentina" . United States Geological Survey. May 30, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 – near the south coast of Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey. June 2, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 3, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 4, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey. June 9, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 12, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 – Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey. June 13, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. June 13, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: MINDANAO: HINATUAN,EBRO" . National Geophysical Data Center . June 13, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. June 13, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – South Island of New Zealand" . United States Geological Survey. June 16, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: NEW ZEALAND: SOUTH ISLAND" . National Geophysical Data Center . June 16, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. June 19, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 20, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 8.1 – South Sandwich Islands region" . United States Geological Survey. June 27, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. June 30, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 3, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Central Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. July 4, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. July 5, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. July 5, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. July 7, 1929. Retrieved March 19, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: IRAN: FARUJ" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 13, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 15, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: IRAN: MASJED SOLEYMAN,ANDARKAH" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 15, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.2 – Iceland" . United States Geological Survey. July 23, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ICELAND" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 23, 1929. Retrieved March 17, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 26, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 1, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 3, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – Myanmar" . United States Geological Survey. August 8, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Taiwan region" . United States Geological Survey. August 19, 1929. Retrieved March 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 3, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 21, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 27, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 – near the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia" . United States Geological Survey. October 5, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – Hawaii region, Hawaii" . United States Geological Survey. October 6, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Kermadec Islands region" . United States Geological Survey. October 8, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 – Myanmar-China border region" . United States Geological Survey. October 16, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 – Antofagasta, Chile" . United States Geological Survey. October 19, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 19, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 24, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.2 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. November 5, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 – State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia" . United States Geological Survey. November 15, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. November 17, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – North Atlantic Ocean" . United States Geological Survey. November 18, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CANADA: GRAND BANKS" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 18, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "Tsunami Event: GRAND BANKS, NEWFOUNDLAND" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 18, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 – Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. November 23, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 – off the west coast of northern Sumatra" . United States Geological Survey. December 9, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "M 7.8 – Near Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. December 17, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . December 27, 1929. Retrieved March 21, 2016 .