List of earthquakes in 1908

Earthquakes in 1908

Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1908 4.0−5.9 magnitude 6.0−6.9 magnitude 7.0−7.9 magnitude 8.0+ magnitude
Strongest magnitude	off the coast of Peru Magnitude 8.0 December 12
Deadliest	Sicily, Italy, December 28 (Magnitude 7.0) 82,220 deaths
Total fatalities	82,220
Number by magnitude
9.0+	0
8.0−8.9	1
7.0−7.9	10
6.0−6.9	18
5.0−5.9	0
← 1907 1909 →

This is a list of earthquakes in 1908. 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. One of the early 20th Century's worst earthquakes happened this year in Italy.

Overall

By death toll

Rank	Death toll	Magnitude	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	82,220	7.0	Sicily, Italy	15.0	December 28

• Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank	Magnitude	Death toll	Location	Depth (km)	Date
1	8.0	0	off the coast of Peru	60.0	December 12
2	7.7	0	Guerrero, Mexico	80.0	March 26
3	7.5	0	off west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia	130.0	February 6
4	7.2	0	Scotia Sea	0.0	August 17
5	7.1	0	off east coast of Honshu, Japan	35.0	January 15
6	7.0	0	off the coast of Guerrero, Mexico	0.0	March 27
6	7.0	0	Southwest Indian Ridge	0.0	April 22
6	7.0	0	Gulf of Alaska	0.0	May 15
6	7.0	0	Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan	220.0	October 24
6	7.0	0	Kachin State, Myanmar	15.0	December 12
6	7.0	82,220	Sicily, Italy	15.0	December 28

• Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January–March

• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Taitung County, Taiwan on January 11 at a depth of 5.0 km.^[1]
• A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck off the east coast of Honshu, Japan on January 15 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[2]
• A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia on February 6 at a depth of 130.0 km.^[3]
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China on February 9 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[4]
• A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck southern Alaska on February 14 at an unknown depth.^[5]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Mindanao, Philippines on March 5 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[6]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on March 12 at a depth of 200.0 km.^[7]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Timor Sea on March 23 at an unknown depth. There was some damage on Timor.^[8]
• A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on March 26 at a depth of 80.0 km.^[9] There was some damage in the area.^[10]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Guerrero, Mexico on March 27 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[11] This event is possibly an aftershock of the event previously however it was located some distance away from the March 26 event.

April–June

• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on April 16 at a depth of 220.0 km.^[12]
• A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Russian side of the Sea of Japan on April 19 at a depth of 450.0 km.^[13]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Southwest Indian Ridge on April 22 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[14]
• A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on May 3 at a depth of 35.0 km.^[15]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Celebes Sea near the Indonesian side on May 5 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[16]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Gulf of Alaska on May 15 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[17]
• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck just south of Crete, Greece on May 17 at a depth of 100.0 km.^[18]
• The summer of 1908 was extremely quiet with no major events recorded from 17 May to 17 August.

July–September

• A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Scotia Sea on August 17 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[19]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck western Xizang Province, China on August 20 at a depth of 15.0 km.^[20]
• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck to the south of the main island of Hawaii on September 21 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[21]

October–December

• A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Buzau County, Romania on October 6 at a depth of 150.0 km.^[22]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on October 13 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[23]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan on October 23 at a depth of 220.0 km.^[24] The following day - October 24 - a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the same area at a depth of 220.0 km. This can be considered a doublet earthquake.^[25]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck southwest of the Mentawai Islands, Indonesia on November 2 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[26]
• A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the Kuril Islands, Russia on November 6 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[27]
• A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Peru on December 12 at a depth of 60.0 km.^[28]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Kachin State, Myanmar on December 12 at a depth of 15.0 km. This event came around 45 minutes after the Peru earthquake.^[29]
• A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck just east of Sicily, Italy on December 28 at a depth of 0.0 km.^[30] Approximately 82,000 people died in the quake and property damage costs amounted to $116 million (1908 rate). A tsunami was caused which resulted in an additional 220 deaths and damage.^[31][32]

References

1. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 11, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
2. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 15, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
3. "Significant Earthquake SW. SUMATRA". National Geophysical Data Center. February 6, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
4. "M6.7 - western Sichuan, China". United States Geological Survey. February 9, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
5. "Significant Earthquake ALASKA GULF". National Geophysical Data Center. February 14, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
6. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 5, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
7. "On-Line Bulletin". International Seismological Centre. April 12, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
8. "Significant Earthquake INDONESIA: TIMOR". National Geophysical Data Center. March 23, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
9. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 26, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
10. "Significant Earthquake MEXICO: GUERRERO". National Geophysical Data Center. March 26, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
11. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 27, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
12. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 16, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
13. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 19, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
14. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 22, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
15. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 3, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
16. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 5, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
17. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 15, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
18. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 17, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
19. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 17, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
20. "M6.9 - western Xizang". United States Geological Survey. August 20, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
21. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. September 21, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
22. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 6, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
23. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 13, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
24. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 23, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
25. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 24, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
26. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 2, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
27. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 6, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
28. "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. December 12, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
29. "M7.0 - Myanmar". United States Geological Survey. December 12, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
30. "M7.0 - Sicily, Italy". United States Geological Survey. December 28, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
31. "Significant Earthquake ITALY: MESSINA, SICILY, CALABRIA". National Geophysical Data Center. December 28, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
32. "Tsunami Event MESSINA STRAIT, IONIAN SEA". National Geophysical Data Center. December 28, 1908. Retrieved November 18, 2015.