List of earthquakes in 1987
Earthquakes in 1987 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1987
Strongest magnitude 7.9 United States Deadliest 7.1 Ecuador 1,000 deaths Total fatalities 1,090 9.0+ 0
This is a list of earthquakes in 1987 . Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time.
By death toll
By magnitude
Rank
Magnitude
Deaths
Location
Max Intensity
Depth (km)
Date (MM-DD)
1
7.9
0
United States , Alaska offshore
VI (Strong )
10.0
November 30
2
7.6
1
Chile , Antofagasta
VI (Strong )
62.3
March 5
2
7.4
0
Papua New Guinea , West New Britain offshore
VIII (Severe )
47.8
October 16
2
7.4
0
Australia , Macquarie Island offshore
I (Not felt )
33.0
September 3
2
7.4
3
Papua New Guinea , Morobe offshore
VII (Very strong )
54.9
February 8
6
7.3
0
Tonga , Vava'u offshore
IV (Light )
16.0
October 6
7
7.2
5
Chile , Tarapacá
VII (Very strong )
69.7
September 8
7
7.2
1,000
Ecuador , Napo
IX (Violent )
10.0
March 6
9
7.1
0
Indonesia , Banda Sea offshore
V (Moderate )
67.3
June 17
10
7.0
0
Papua New Guinea , Bougainville offshore
V (Moderate )
24.7
October 12
10
7.0
0
Argentina , Jujuy
IV (Light )
248.7
April 1
10
7.0
0
Chile , Antofagasta offshore
IV (Light )
34.8
March 5
10
7.0
0
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands , South Sandwich Islands offshore
I (Not felt )
47.6
January 30
By month
January
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
2[ 1]
Egypt , Ismailia
5.0
24.1
V
Minor damage occurred in Ismailia .
-
-
3[ 2]
Papua New Guinea , Bismarck Sea offshore
6.2
5.0
I
This two similarly sized earthquakes occurring an hour apart can be considered a doublet earthquake .
-
-
3[ 3]
Papua New Guinea , Bismarck Sea offshore
6.3
5.0
I
-
-
3[ 4]
Vanuatu , Sanma
6.7
14.5
VII
-
-
-
4[ 5]
Panama , Chiriquí offshore
6.3
10.0
I
-
-
-
5[ 6]
United States , Alaska offshore
6.8
33.0
V
-
-
-
5[ 7]
China , Xinjiang
5.7
16.5
VII
Several people were injured and damage occurred in Baicheng .
-
Several
7[ 8]
Albania , Korçë
5.0
13.5
VI
Damage occurred in Ersekë and Gostivisht .
-
-
9[ 9]
Japan , Iwate
6.6
66.7
VI
Minor damage occurred in Morioka and Ōfunato .
-
-
9[ 10]
Tonga , Tongatapu offshore
6.5
33.0
I
-
-
-
11[ 11]
Iran , Fars
4.9
9.7
VI
300 houses were damaged in Doshman Ziari .
-
-
13[ 12]
Colombia , Chocó offshore
6.0
10.0
II
-
-
-
13[ 13]
southern East Pacific Rise
6.0
10.0
I
-
-
-
14[ 14]
Japan , Hokkaido
6.8
102.0
VI
Six people were injured.
-
6
15[ 15]
El Salvador , La Libertad
4.0
10.0
IV
This is an aftershock of the 1986 San Salvador earthquake . Additional damage was caused, with many structures previously damaged by the October event collapsed.
-
-
22[ 16]
Italy , Tuscany offshore
4.2
21.6
IV
Two people died of heart attacks .
2
-
24[ 17]
China , Xinjiang
6.2
28.9
VII
417 houses were damaged in Wushi .
-
-
26[ 18]
Algeria , Chlef
4.9
10.0
VI
One person was killed, another seven were injured, and 629 houses were damaged in Mohammadia .
1
7
30[ 19]
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands , South Sandwich Islands offshore
7.0
47.6
I
-
-
-
February
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
6[ 20]
Japan , Fukushima offshore
6.4
35.6
IV
It is a foreshock of the 6.8 quake an hour later.
-
-
6[ 21]
Japan , Fukushima offshore
6.8
47.7
V
Small tsunamis were observed, the largest having 12 cm at Onahama .
-
-
7[ 22]
Papua New Guinea , Morobe offshore
6.2
27.4
VI
It is a foreshock of the 7.4 event two days later.
-
-
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the USGS
^ "M 5.0 - 14 km SSW of Ismailia, Egypt" .
^ "M 6.2 - 191 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.3 - 189 km SW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.7 - 92 km E of Port-Olry, Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.3 - 229 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama" .
^ "M 6.8 - 64 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska" .
^ "M 5.7 - 122 km NE of Aksu, China" .
^ "M 5.0 - 14 km NW of Ersekë, Albania" .
^ "M 6.6 - 35 km NW of Miyako, Japan" .
^ "M 6.5 - 231 km NW of Nuku'alofa, Tonga" .
^ "M 4.9 - 30 km ESE of N?r?b?d, Iran" .
^ "M 6.0 - 179 km WSW of Bahía Solano, Colombia" .
^ "M 6.0 - southern East Pacific Rise" .
^ "M 6.8 - 47 km ENE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan" .
^ "M 4.0 - 2 km S of San Pablo Tacachico, El Salvador" .
^ "M 4.2 - 14 km WSW of Livorno, Italy" .
^ "M 6.2 - 89 km WNW of Aksu, China" .
^ "M 4.9 - 21 km SE of Oued Sly, Algeria" .
^ "M 7.0 - South Sandwich Islands region" .
^ "M 6.4 - 80 km E of Iwaki, Japan" .
^ "M 6.8 - 72 km E of Iwaki, Japan" .
^ "M 6.2 - 84 km N of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea" .
Notes
† indicates earthquake resulting in at least 30 deaths ‡ indicates the deadliest earthquake of the year