This is a list of earthquakes in 1947 . 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. Although a fairly busy year in terms of magnitude 7.0+ events, the death toll was relatively low at 745. Up to 733 deaths were attributed to two events in Iran and Peru . The largest events measured 7.6 which compared with recent years was quite modest. Magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes were generally spread around the world with Indonesia seeing the most.
Earthquakes in 1947 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1947
Strongest magnitude 2 events reached magnitude 7.6 Deadliest Iran , South Khorasan Province (Magnitude 6.9) September 23 500 deathsTotal fatalities 745 9.0+ 0
Note : At least 10 casualties
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
= 1
7.6
0
Indonesia , off the north coast of Papua (province)
VI (Strong )
15.0
May 27
= 1
7.6
233
Peru , Junin Region
X (Extreme )
20.0
November 1
2
7.4
0
Taiwan , northeast of
( )
121.5
September 26
= 3
7.3
0
Republic of China (1912-1949) , Qinghai Province
VII (Very strong )
15.0
March 17
= 3
7.3
0
Indonesia , off the north coast of Papua (province)
VII (Very strong )
15.0
April 2
= 3
7.3
0
India , Arunachal Pradesh
VII (Very strong )
20.0
July 29
= 3
7.3
3
Greece , Peloponnese (region)
VII (Very strong )
15.0
October 6
= 4
7.2
0
Nicaragua , eastern Managua
( )
162.5
January 26
= 4
7.2
0
Argentina , Santiago del Estero Province
( )
565.8
January 29
= 4
7.2
0
United States , Northern Mariana Islands
( )
35.0
June 19
= 4
7.2
0
United States , central Alaska
VIII (Severe )
26.0
October 16
= 5
7.0
0
New Zealand , Hawke's Bay Region
VI (Strong )
165.0
March 25
= 5
7.0
0
Philippines , Leyte
VII (Very strong )
15.0
June 7
= 5
7.0
0
Indonesia , Molucca Sea
VI (Strong )
15.0
June 12
= 5
7.0
0
United States , Northern Mariana Islands
( )
35.0
June 13
= 5
7.0
0
Japan , eastern Sea of Japan
V (Moderate )
15.0
November 4
= 5
7.0
0
Southeast Indian Ridge
( )
60.0
December 24
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
January Strongest magnitude 7.2 Mw 2 events Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 2
February Strongest magnitude 6.8 Mw Japan Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 4
April Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Indonesia Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2
May Strongest magnitude 7.6 Mw Indonesia Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2
July Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw India Deadliest 0.0 Mw Colombia 2 deaths Total fatalities 2 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 3
August Strongest magnitude 6.8 Mw 2 events Deadliest 5.3 Mw France 3 deaths Total fatalities 3 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 3 5.0–5.9 1
September Strongest magnitude 7.4 Mw Taiwan Deadliest 6.9 Mw Iran 500 deaths Total fatalities 500 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 3
October Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Greece Deadliest 7.3 Mw Greece 3 deaths Total fatalities 3 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 1
November Strongest magnitude 7.6 Mw Peru Deadliest 7.6 Mw Peru 233 deaths Total fatalities 233 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 3
^ "M 6.5 – east of the Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey. January 3, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 21, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 26, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: EL SALVADOR: LA UNION" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 26, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 29, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . February 2, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 – Solomon Islands" . United States Geological Survey. February 7, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "M 6.3 – Solomon Islands" . United States Geological Survey. February 7, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "M 6.5 – western Xizang" . United States Geological Survey. February 10, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – western Xizang" . United States Geological Survey. February 10, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . February 18, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey. March 2, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey. March 2, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "M 7.3 – Qinghai-Sichuan border region, China" . United States Geological Survey. March 17, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – Qinghai-Sichuan border region, China" . United States Geological Survey. March 17, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "M 7.0 – North Island of New Zealand" . United States Geological Survey. March 25, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – North Island of New Zealand" . United States Geological Survey. March 25, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: NEW ZEALAND: OFF COAST NORTH ISLAND" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 25, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "Tsunami Event: OFF COAST OF NORTH ISLAND" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 25, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 26, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. April 2, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. April 2, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "M 6.5 – 34 km SSE of Fort Irwin, CA" . United States Geological Survey. April 10, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – 34 km SSE of Fort Irwin, CA" . United States Geological Survey. April 10, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "Manix Earthquake" . Caltech . April 10, 1947. Retrieved August 15, 2020 .
^ "M 6.9 – east of the Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey. April 14, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey. May 6, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey. May 6, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 27, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 7.6 – near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. May 27, 1947. Retrieved September 23, 2016 .
^ "M 7.6 – near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. May 27, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 4, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: SICHUAN PROVINCE" . National Geophysical Data Center . June 7, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – Leyte, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. June 7, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – Leyte, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. June 7, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "M 7.0 – Molucca Sea" . United States Geological Survey. June 12, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – Molucca Sea" . United States Geological Survey. June 12, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "M 7.0 – Mariana Islands region" . United States Geological Survey. June 13, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – Mariana Islands region" . United States Geological Survey. June 19, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 10, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: COLOMBIA: PASTO" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 14, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "The Pasto, Colombia, earthquake of July 14, 1947" . Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America . July 14, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 25, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 26, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – eastern Xizang-India border region" . United States Geological Survey. July 29, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – eastern Xizang-India border region" . United States Geological Survey. July 29, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "M 6.8 – southwestern Pakistan" . United States Geological Survey. August 5, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 6.8 – southwestern Pakistan" . United States Geological Survey. August 5, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 6, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ALGERIA" . National Geophysical Data Center . August 6, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – Cuba region" . United States Geological Survey. August 7, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – Cuba region" . United States Geological Survey. August 7, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 2, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 3, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 – eastern Iran" . United States Geological Survey. September 23, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 – eastern Iran" . United States Geological Survey. September 23, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: IRAN: DUSTABAD" . National Geophysical Data Center . September 23, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 26, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 3, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – southern Greece" . United States Geological Survey. October 6, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – southern Greece" . United States Geological Survey. October 6, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: GREECE: S: PYLIA (MESSINIA)" . National Geophysical Data Center . October 6, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – Central Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. October 16, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – Central Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. October 16, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "M 7.6 – central Peru" . United States Geological Survey. November 1, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.6 – central Peru" . United States Geological Survey. November 1, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PERU: SATIPO,ANDAMARCA,ACOBAMBA,LA MERCED,VICTOC" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 1, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – eastern Sea of Japan" . United States Geological Survey. November 4, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – eastern Sea of Japan" . United States Geological Survey. November 4, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "Tsunami Event: W. HOKKAIDO ISLAND" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 4, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – southeast of the Loyalty Islands" . United States Geological Survey. November 9, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . November 14, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
^ "M 6.1 – western Montana" . United States Geological Survey. November 23, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "M 6.1 – western Montana" . United States Geological Survey. November 23, 1947. Retrieved August 16, 2020 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . December 24, 1947. Retrieved September 25, 2016 .