List of earthquakes in 2016
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:04:26 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of earthquakes in 2016. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap data. Major events took place in Ecuador, Italy, Taiwan, Indonesia and New Zealand this year, while the strongest tremor was observed in Papua New Guinea. 2016 was also the first year since 2002 with no magnitude 8+ earthquakes.
Infobox
Strongest
7 Mw, Papua New Guinea
Deadliest
7 Mw, Ecuador 676 deaths
Total fatalities
1,585
9.0
0
8.0–8.9
0
7.0–7.9
16
6.0–6.9
127
5.0–5.9
1,507
4.0–4.9
12,771
Tables
Number of earthquakes worldwide for 2006–2016 · Compared to other years
8 –9
8 –9
Magnitude
8 –9
2006
2
2007
4
2008
1
2009
1
2010
1
2011
1
2012
2
2013
2
2014
1
2015
1
2016
0
7 –7
7 –7
Magnitude
7 –7
2006
9
2007
14
2008
12
2009
16
2010
21
2011
19
2012
15
2013
17
2014
11
2015
18
2016
16
6 –6
6 –6
Magnitude
6 –6
2006
142
2007
178
2008
168
2009
144
2010
151
2011
204
2012
129
2013
125
2014
140
2015
124
2016
127
5 –5
5 –5
Magnitude
5 –5
2006
1,712
2007
2,074
2008
1,768
2009
1,896
2010
1,963
2011
2,271
2012
1,412
2013
1,402
2014
1,475
2015
1,413
2016
1,507
4 –4
4 –4
Magnitude
4 –4
2006
12,838
2007
12,080
2008
12,292
2009
6,805
2010
10,164
2011
13,303
2012
10,990
2013
9,795
2014
13,494
2015
13,239
2016
12,771
Total
Total
Magnitude
Total
2006
14,703
2007
14,350
2008
14,240
2009
8,862
2010
12,300
2011
15,798
2012
12,548
2013
11,341
2014
15,121
2015
14,795
2016
14,421
| Magnitude | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| 8 –9 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 –7 | 9 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 16 |
| 6 –6 | 142 | 178 | 168 | 144 | 151 | 204 | 129 | 125 | 140 | 124 | 127 |
| 5 –5 | 1,712 | 2,074 | 1,768 | 1,896 | 1,963 | 2,271 | 1,412 | 1,402 | 1,475 | 1,413 | 1,507 |
| 4 –4 | 12,838 | 12,080 | 12,292 | 6,805 | 10,164 | 13,303 | 10,990 | 9,795 | 13,494 | 13,239 | 12,771 |
| Total | 14,703 | 14,350 | 14,240 | 8,862 | 12,300 | 15,798 | 12,548 | 11,341 | 15,121 | 14,795 | 14,421 |
· By death toll
1
1
Rank
1
Death toll
676
Magnitude
7
Location
Ecuador, Esmeraldas
MMI
VIII (Severe)
Depth (km)
20
Date
April 16
2
2
Rank
2
Death toll
299
Magnitude
6
Location
Italy, Umbria
MMI
XI (Extreme)
Depth (km)
4
Date
August 24
3
3
Rank
3
Death toll
273
Magnitude
7
Location
Japan, Kyushu
MMI
IX (Violent)
Depth (km)
10
Date
April 15
4
4
Rank
4
Death toll
117
Magnitude
6
Location
Taiwan, Kaohsiung
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
23
Date
February 6
5
5
Rank
5
Death toll
104
Magnitude
6
Location
Indonesia, Aceh
MMI
VIII (Severe)
Depth (km)
13
Date
December 6
6
6
Rank
6
Death toll
23
Magnitude
5
Location
Tanzania, Kagera Region
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
40
Date
September 10
7
7
Rank
7
Death toll
11
Magnitude
6
Location
India, Imphal
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
55
Date
January 3
8
8
Rank
8
Death toll
10
Magnitude
6
Location
Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province
MMI
V (Moderate)
Depth (km)
212
Date
April 10
| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 676 | 7 | Ecuador, Esmeraldas | VIII (Severe) | 20 | April 16 |
| 2 | 299 | 6 | Italy, Umbria | XI (Extreme) | 4 | August 24 |
| 3 | 273 | 7 | Japan, Kyushu | IX (Violent) | 10 | April 15 |
| 4 | 117 | 6 | Taiwan, Kaohsiung | VII (Very strong) | 23 | February 6 |
| 5 | 104 | 6 | Indonesia, Aceh | VIII (Severe) | 13 | December 6 |
| 6 | 23 | 5 | Tanzania, Kagera Region | VII (Very strong) | 40 | September 10 |
| 7 | 11 | 6 | India, Imphal | VII (Very strong) | 55 | January 3 |
| 8 | 10 | 6 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | V (Moderate) | 212 | April 10 |
· By magnitude
1
1
Rank
1
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Papua New Guinea, New Ireland
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
93
Date
December 17
2
2
Rank
2
Magnitude
7
Death toll
676
Location
Ecuador, Esmeraldas
MMI
VIII (Severe)
Depth (km)
20
Date
April 16
2
2
Rank
2
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Indonesia, Sumatra
MMI
III (Weak)
Depth (km)
24
Date
March 2
2
2
Rank
2
Magnitude
7
Death toll
2
Location
New Zealand, South Island
MMI
IX (Violent)
Depth (km)
22
Date
November 14
2
2
Rank
2
Magnitude
7
Death toll
1
Location
Solomon Islands, Kirakira
MMI
VIII (Severe)
Depth (km)
41
Date
December 8
6
6
Rank
6
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Northern Mariana Islands
MMI
VI (Strong)
Depth (km)
212
Date
July 29
7
7
Rank
7
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Chile, Los Lagos
MMI
VIII (Severe)
Depth (km)
35
Date
December 25
8
8
Rank
8
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
MMI
I (Not felt)
Depth (km)
10
Date
August 19
9
9
Rank
9
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Russia, Kamchatka
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
163
Date
January 30
9
9
Rank
9
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
MMI
VI (Strong)
Depth (km)
72
Date
May 28
9
9
Rank
9
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
New Caledonia
MMI
V (Moderate)
Depth (km)
9
Date
August 12
12
12
Rank
12
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
United States, Alaska
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
125
Date
January 24
12
12
Rank
12
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Ascension Island
MMI
I (Not felt)
Depth (km)
10
Date
August 29
14
14
Rank
14
Magnitude
7
Death toll
273
Location
Japan, Kyushu
MMI
IX (Violent)
Depth (km)
10
Date
April 15
14
14
Rank
14
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
Vanuatu
MMI
VII (Very strong)
Depth (km)
27
Date
April 28
14
14
Rank
14
Magnitude
7
Death toll
0
Location
New Zealand, North Island
MMI
VI (Strong)
Depth (km)
19
Date
September 1
| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 7 | 0 | Papua New Guinea, New Ireland | VII (Very strong) | 93 | December 17 |
| 2 | 7 | 676 | Ecuador, Esmeraldas | VIII (Severe) | 20 | April 16 |
| 2 | 7 | 0 | Indonesia, Sumatra | III (Weak) | 24 | March 2 |
| 2 | 7 | 2 | New Zealand, South Island | IX (Violent) | 22 | November 14 |
| 2 | 7 | 1 | Solomon Islands, Kirakira | VIII (Severe) | 41 | December 8 |
| 6 | 7 | 0 | Northern Mariana Islands | VI (Strong) | 212 | July 29 |
| 7 | 7 | 0 | Chile, Los Lagos | VIII (Severe) | 35 | December 25 |
| 8 | 7 | 0 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | I (Not felt) | 10 | August 19 |
| 9 | 7 | 0 | Russia, Kamchatka | VII (Very strong) | 163 | January 30 |
| 9 | 7 | 0 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands | VI (Strong) | 72 | May 28 |
| 9 | 7 | 0 | New Caledonia | V (Moderate) | 9 | August 12 |
| 12 | 7 | 0 | United States, Alaska | VII (Very strong) | 125 | January 24 |
| 12 | 7 | 0 | Ascension Island | I (Not felt) | 10 | August 29 |
| 14 | 7 | 273 | Japan, Kyushu | IX (Violent) | 10 | April 15 |
| 14 | 7 | 0 | Vanuatu | VII (Very strong) | 27 | April 28 |
| 14 | 7 | 0 | New Zealand, North Island | VI (Strong) | 19 | September 1 |
References
- "USGS Real-time Earthquake Map with exact dates and live earthquake reports"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/map/
- "USGS Earthquake Myths"https://web.archive.org/web/20160319120417/http://www.usgs.gov/faq/taxonomy/term/9830
- "M6 – Western Indian-Antarctic Ridge"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004ant
- "M6 – 29 km W of Imphāl, India"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004b2n#general_summary
- "Quake strikes northeast India, Bangladesh; 11 dead, nearly 200 hurt"https://web.archive.org/web/20190912090213/http://news.trust.org//item/20160104013241-etuqz/?source=jtOtherNews3
- "M6 – Pacific-Antarctic Ridge"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004bgk
- "M 5 - 13 km SW of Yerköy, Turkey"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004dbv/executive
- "Kırşehir depremi hasara neden olmadı"https://www.memurlar.net/haber/557880/kirsehir-depremi-hasara-neden-olmadi.html
- "Yozgat'ta depremde hasar gören bina çöktü"https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/yozgatta-depremde-hasar-goren-bina-coktu/506862
- "M6 – 227 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004dj5#general_summary
- "M6 – 74 km NW of Rumoi, Japan"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004djn#general_summary
- "M6 – 14 km WNW of Charagua, Bolivia"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004ebw#general_summary
- "M 6 – 52 km SE of Shizunai-furukawachō, Japan"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004ebx#general_summary
- "M5 – 107 km W of Ambon, Indonesia"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004f44#general_summary
- antaranewshttp://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102584/54-magnitude-earthquake-hits-south-buru-district-causing-damage-agency
- "M5 – 91 km WSW of Wuwei, China"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004fv5#general_summary
- "Nine Injured in N . China Quake"https://web.archive.org/web/20160122160015/http://english.cri.cn/12394/2016/01/21/2702s913924.htm
- "M 6 – 203 km SW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004g4l
- "M 7 – 47 km ESE of Pedro Bay, Alaska"https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us10004gqp#general_summary
- "Red Cross sends team to Kenai to assist families affected by 7 earthquake"https://web.archive.org/web/20160124215652/http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/strong-earthquake-with-initial-magnitude-of-about-71-hits-south-alaska/37610068