This is a list of earthquakes in 2011. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. Smaller events 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 9 Tōhoku earthquake was the fourth most powerful ever recorded and triggered a massive tsunami (around 20,000 deaths). In a very seismically active year, many earthquakes caused damage in Turkey, New Zealand, Myanmar, India and United States.
Infobox
Strongest
9 Mw Japan
Deadliest
9 Mw Japan 19,747 deaths
Total fatalities
20,925
9.0
1
8.0–8.9
0
7.0–7.9
18
6.0–6.9
204
5.0–5.9
2271
Tables
Number of earthquakes worldwide for 2001–2011 []· Compared to other years
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
8 –9
8 –9
Magnitude
8 –9
1999
14
2000
1
2001
1
2002
0
2003
1
2004
2
2005
1
2006
2
2007
4
2008
1
2009
1
7 –7
7 –7
Magnitude
7 –7
1999
18
2000
15
2001
14
2002
13
2003
14
2004
14
2005
10
2006
9
2007
14
2008
12
2009
16
6 –6
6 –6
Magnitude
6 –6
1999
117
2000
145
2001
122
2002
126
2003
139
2004
141
2005
139
2006
142
2007
178
2008
167
2009
143
5 –5
5 –5
Magnitude
5 –5
1999
1,057
2000
1,334
2001
1,212
2002
1,170
2003
1,212
2004
1,511
2005
1,694
2006
1,726
2007
2,090
2008
1,786
2009
1,912
4 –4
4 –4
Magnitude
4 –4
1999
7,004
2000
7,968
2001
7,969
2002
8,479
2003
8,455
2004
10,880
2005
13,893
2006
12,843
2007
12,081
2008
12,294
2009
6,817
Total
Total
Magnitude
Total
1999
8,296
2000
9,462
2001
9,319
2002
9,788
2003
9,823
2004
12,551
2005
15,738
2006
14,723
2007
14,367
2008
14,261
2009
8,891
Ranked list
Magnitude
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
8 –9
14
1
1
0
1
2
1
2
4
1
1
7 –7
18
15
14
13
14
14
10
9
14
12
16
6 –6
117
145
122
126
139
141
139
142
178
167
143
5 –5
1,057
1,334
1,212
1,170
1,212
1,511
1,694
1,726
2,090
1,786
1,912
4 –4
7,004
7,968
7,969
8,479
8,455
10,880
13,893
12,843
12,081
12,294
6,817
Total
8,296
9,462
9,319
9,788
9,823
12,551
15,738
14,723
14,367
14,261
8,891
· Overall › By death toll
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
1
1
Rank
1
Death toll
19,747
Magnitude
9
Location
Japan, Tōhoku
MMI
XI (Extreme)
Depth (km)
29
Date
March 11
2
2
Rank
2
Death toll
604
Magnitude
7
Location
Turkey, Van
MMI
VIII (Severe)
Depth (km)
7
Date
October 23
3
3
Rank
3
Death toll
185
Magnitude
6
Location
New Zealand, Christchurch
MMI
XI (Extreme)
Depth (km)
5
Date
February 22
4
4
Rank
4
Death toll
151
Magnitude
6
Location
Myanmar, Shan
MMI
X (Extreme)
Depth (km)
10
Date
March 24
5
5
Rank
5
Death toll
111
Magnitude
6
Location
India, Sikkim
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
19
Date
September 18
6
6
Rank
6
Death toll
38
Magnitude
5
Location
Turkey, Van
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
5
Date
November 9
7
7
Rank
7
Death toll
26
Magnitude
5
Location
China, Yunnan
MMI
VI (Strong)
Depth (km)
10
Date
March 10
8
8
Rank
8
Death toll
14
Magnitude
6
Location
Uzbekistan, Sughd
MMI
VI (Strong)
Depth (km)
20
Date
July 19
9
9
Rank
9
Death toll
10
Magnitude
6
Location
Indonesia, Aceh
MMI
VI (Strong)
Depth (km)
78
Date
September 5
Ranked list
Rank
Death toll
Magnitude
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
19,747
9
Japan, Tōhoku
XI (Extreme)
29
March 11
2
604
7
Turkey, Van
VIII (Severe)
7
October 23
3
185
6
New Zealand, Christchurch
XI (Extreme)
5
February 22
4
151
6
Myanmar, Shan
X (Extreme)
10
March 24
5
111
6
India, Sikkim
VII (Very strong)
19
September 18
6
38
5
Turkey, Van
VII (Very strong)
5
November 9
7
26
5
China, Yunnan
VI (Strong)
10
March 10
8
14
6
Uzbekistan, Sughd
VI (Strong)
20
July 19
9
10
6
Indonesia, Aceh
VI (Strong)
78
September 5
· Overall › By magnitude
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
1
1
Rank
1
Magnitude
9
Death toll
19,747
Location
Japan, Tōhoku
Date
March 11
2
2
Rank
2
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Japan, Honshu
Date
March 11
3
3
Rank
3
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Japan, Honshu
Date
March 11
4
4
Rank
4
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
New Zealand, Kermadec Islands
Date
July 6
5
5
Rank
5
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
New Zealand, Kermadec Islands
Date
October 21
6
6
Rank
6
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Japan, Honshu
Date
March 9
6
6
Rank
6
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Fiji, Ndoi Island
Date
September 15
8
8
Rank
8
Magnitude
7
Death toll
3
Location
Pakistan, Balochistan
Date
January 18
8
8
Rank
8
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
United States, Aleutian Islands
Date
June 23
8
8
Rank
8
Magnitude
7
Death toll
604
Location
Turkey, Van
Date
October 23
11
11
Rank
11
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Chile, Araucanía Region
Date
January 2
11
11
Rank
11
Magnitude
7
Death toll
4
Location
Japan, Honshu
Date
April 7
11
11
Rank
11
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Vanuatu, Port Vila
Date
August 20
11
11
Rank
11
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Papua New Guinea, Lae
Date
December 14
15
15
Rank
15
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Argentina, Santiago del Estero
Date
January 1
15
15
Rank
15
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands
Date
January 13
15
15
Rank
15
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Japan, Honshu
Date
July 10
15
15
Rank
15
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Vanuatu, Port Vila
Date
August 20
15
15
Rank
15
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Vanuatu, Isangel
Date
September 3
Ranked list
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
Date
1
9
19,747
Japan, Tōhoku
March 11
2
7
0
Japan, Honshu
March 11
3
7
0
Japan, Honshu
March 11
4
7
0
New Zealand, Kermadec Islands
July 6
5
7
0
New Zealand, Kermadec Islands
October 21
6
7
0
Japan, Honshu
March 9
6
7
0
Fiji, Ndoi Island
September 15
8
7
3
Pakistan, Balochistan
January 18
8
7
0
United States, Aleutian Islands
June 23
8
7
604
Turkey, Van
October 23
11
7
0
Chile, Araucanía Region
January 2
11
7
4
Japan, Honshu
April 7
11
7
0
Vanuatu, Port Vila
August 20
11
7
0
Papua New Guinea, Lae
December 14
15
7
0
Argentina, Santiago del Estero
January 1
15
7
0
New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands
January 13
15
7
0
Japan, Honshu
July 10
15
7
0
Vanuatu, Port Vila
August 20
15
7
0
Vanuatu, Isangel
September 3
· By month › January
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Dead
Dead
Date
Dead
Country and location
Injured
1
1
Date
1
Country and location
Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province, 26 km north northeast of El Hoyo
Mw
7
Depth (km)
583
MMI
V
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
2
2
Date
2
Country and location
Chile, Araucanía Region, 42 km north northwest of Carahue
Mw
7
Depth (km)
24
MMI
VII
Notes
This was an aftershock to the 2010 Chile earthquake.
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
5
5
Date
5
Country and location
New Caledonia, offshore, southeast of the Loyalty Islands
Mw
6
Depth (km)
112
MMI
—
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
9
9
Date
9
Country and location
Vanuatu, Tafea offshore, 110 km west northwest of Isangel
Mw
6
Depth (km)
22
MMI
V
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
9
9
Date
9
Country and location
Vanuatu, Tafea offshore, 124 km west northwest of Isangel
Mw
6
Depth (km)
18
MMI
IV
Notes
This was an aftershock to the 6 earthquake 7 hours earlier.
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
12
12
Date
12
Country and location
Japan offshore, Bonin Islands region
Mw
6
Depth (km)
512
MMI
III
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
13
13
Date
13
Country and location
New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands offshore, 118 km north northeast of Tadine
Mw
7
Depth (km)
9
MMI
V
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
17
17
Date
17
Country and location
Indonesia, South Sumatra offshore, 129 km south southwest of Pagar Alam
Mw
6
Depth (km)
36
MMI
IV
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
18
18
Date
18
Country and location
Pakistan, Balochistan, 46 km west southwest of Dalbandin
Mw
7
Depth (km)
68
MMI
VII
Notes
The 2011 Dalbandin earthquake damaged 200 homes near the epicentre. One person was killed by falling debris, and two others died from heart attacks in Quetta. This was the strongest in the country since the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.
Casualties
3
Casualties
—
24
24
Date
24
Country and location
Tajikistan, Gorno-Badakshan, 106 km west northwest of Murghob
Mw
6
Depth (km)
110
MMI
V
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
26
26
Date
26
Country and location
Indonesia, Aceh offshore, 58 km east southeast of Sinabang
Mw
6
Depth (km)
23
MMI
V
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
27
27
Date
27
Country and location
Iran, Kerman Province, 119 km south southeast of Bam
Mw
6
Depth (km)
10
MMI
VII
Notes
This was an aftershock of the 2010 Hosseinabad earthquake.
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
29
29
Date
29
Country and location
Norway, Svalbard and Jan Mayen offshore, 75 km east of Olonkinbyen
Mw
6
Depth (km)
15
MMI
—
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
31
31
Date
31
Country and location
Tonga, Tongatapu, offshore, 101 km south southwest of Vaini
Mw
6
Depth (km)
76
MMI
V
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
Ranked list
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1
Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province, 26 km north northeast of El Hoyo
7
583
V
—
—
—
2
Chile, Araucanía Region, 42 km north northwest of Carahue
7
24
VII
This was an aftershock to the 2010 Chile earthquake.
—
—
5
New Caledonia, offshore, southeast of the Loyalty Islands
6
112
—
—
—
—
9
Vanuatu, Tafea offshore, 110 km west northwest of Isangel
6
22
V
—
—
—
9
Vanuatu, Tafea offshore, 124 km west northwest of Isangel
6
18
IV
This was an aftershock to the 6 earthquake 7 hours earlier.
—
—
12
Japan offshore, Bonin Islands region
6
512
III
—
—
—
13
New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands offshore, 118 km north northeast of Tadine
7
9
V
—
—
—
17
Indonesia, South Sumatra offshore, 129 km south southwest of Pagar Alam
6
36
IV
—
—
—
18
Pakistan, Balochistan, 46 km west southwest of Dalbandin
7
68
VII
The 2011 Dalbandin earthquake damaged 200 homes near the epicentre. One person was killed by falling debris, and two others died from heart attacks in Quetta. This was the strongest in the country since the 2005 Kashmir earthquake.
3
—
24
Tajikistan, Gorno-Badakshan, 106 km west northwest of Murghob
6
110
V
—
—
—
26
Indonesia, Aceh offshore, 58 km east southeast of Sinabang
6
23
V
—
—
—
27
Iran, Kerman Province, 119 km south southeast of Bam
6
10
VII
This was an aftershock of the 2010 Hosseinabad earthquake.
—
—
29
Norway, Svalbard and Jan Mayen offshore, 75 km east of Olonkinbyen
6
15
—
—
—
—
31
Tonga, Tongatapu, offshore, 101 km south southwest of Vaini
6
76
V
—
—
—
· By month › February
Multi-metric bars
World heat map
Dead
Dead
Date
Dead
Country and location
Injured
4
4
Date
4
Country and location
Myanmar, Sagaing Region, 62 km east of Wangjing, India
Mw
6
Depth (km)
85
MMI
VI
Notes
One person was killed and several buildings and bridges were damaged in Monywa, Myanmar. Some damage was also reported in Assam, India.
Casualties
1
Casualties
—
7
7
Date
7
Country and location
Papua New Guinea, Bougainville offshore, 98 km south southwest of Arawa
Mw
6
Depth (km)
415
MMI
III
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
10
10
Date
10
Country and location
Philippines, Celebes Sea offshore, 250 km south southeast of Tabiauan
Mw
6
Depth (km)
525
MMI
IV
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
11
11
Date
11
Country and location
Chile, Maule Region, 21 km north of Tomé
Mw
6
Depth (km)
26
MMI
VII
Notes
A tsunami up to 0 m (0 ft) was observed off the coast of Chile. This was an aftershock of the 2010 Chile earthquake.
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
12
12
Date
12
Country and location
Chile, Bío-Bío Region, 13 km south southeast of Chiguayante
Mw
6
Depth (km)
16
MMI
VII
Notes
It is also an aftershock of the 2010 Chile earthquake.
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
15
15
Date
15
Country and location
Indonesia, South Sulawesi, 146 km south southeast of Poso
Mw
6
Depth (km)
16
MMI
VII
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
20
20
Date
20
Country and location
Russia, Kamchatka, 41 km south southwest of Ust-Kamchatsk
Mw
6
Depth (km)
33
MMI
VI
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
21
21
Date
21
Country and location
Tonga, offshore, south of the Fiji Islands
Mw
6
Depth (km)
558
MMI
—
Notes
—
Casualties
—
Casualties
—
21
21
Date
21
Country and location
New Zealand, Canterbury, 6 km southeast of Christchurch
Mw
6
Depth (km)
5
MMI
XI
Notes
The 2011 Christchurch earthquake was one of the worst natural disasters in New Zealand's history. 185 people were killed, and 2,000 people were injured. This was also an aftershock of the 2010 Canterbury earthquake.
Casualties
185
Casualties
2,000
Ranked list
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
4
Myanmar, Sagaing Region, 62 km east of Wangjing, India
6
85
VI
One person was killed and several buildings and bridges were damaged in Monywa, Myanmar. Some damage was also reported in Assam, India.
1
—
7
Papua New Guinea, Bougainville offshore, 98 km south southwest of Arawa
6
415
III
—
—
—
10
Philippines, Celebes Sea offshore, 250 km south southeast of Tabiauan
6
525
IV
—
—
—
11
Chile, Maule Region, 21 km north of Tomé
6
26
VII
A tsunami up to 0 m (0 ft) was observed off the coast of Chile. This was an aftershock of the 2010 Chile earthquake.
—
—
12
Chile, Bío-Bío Region, 13 km south southeast of Chiguayante
6
16
VII
It is also an aftershock of the 2010 Chile earthquake.
—
—
15
Indonesia, South Sulawesi, 146 km south southeast of Poso
6
16
VII
—
—
—
20
Russia, Kamchatka, 41 km south southwest of Ust-Kamchatsk
6
33
VI
—
—
—
21
Tonga, offshore, south of the Fiji Islands
6
558
—
—
—
—
21
New Zealand, Canterbury, 6 km southeast of Christchurch
6
5
XI
The 2011 Christchurch earthquake was one of the worst natural disasters in New Zealand's history. 185 people were killed, and 2,000 people were injured. This was also an aftershock of the 2010 Canterbury earthquake.
