This is a list of earthquakes in 1917. 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. This year was marked by many earthquakes which caused deaths or damage across a number of countries.
Overall
By death toll
Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 , Guatemala Department 2 , Sichuan Province 3 , Kangean Islands = 4 , Anhui Province = 4 , La Libertad Department, El Salvador 5 Taiwan, off south coast of Pingtung County Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date 1 Western Samoa Trust Territory, southwest of Samoa 2 , Kermadec Islands 3 , off the east coast of Kamchatka = 4 , Kermadec Islands = 4 , Sandaun Province = 5 , south of the Alaska Peninsula = 5 Sea of Japan = 6 , Barat Daya Islands = 7 , south of = 7 Taiwan, northeast of = 8 , Badakhshan Province = 8 , Meta Department = 8 , northern Sumatra = 9 Taiwan, northeast of = 9 , off east coast of Honshu Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
Notable events
January
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Taiwan, off the south coast of Pingtung County 6.5 0.0 54 people were killed and 85 were injured. 136 homes were destroyed. Part of the 1916–1917 Nantou earthquakes. Depth unknown. 54 85 Taiwan, off the southeast coast of Pingtung County 6.5 0.0 Depth unknown. , Kangean Islands 6.6 0.0 The 1917 Bali earthquake caused 1,500 deaths. Landslides resulted in the destruction of many homes. Depth unknown. 1,500 , Anhui Province 6.3 20.0 At least 101 deaths were caused. Many homes were destroyed. 101+ , off the coast of Fujian Province 6.5 0.0 A tsunami was generated which damaged some fishing boats. , Kamchatka 8.0 20.0 Philippines, Mindanao 6.4 0.0 A landslide caused 7 deaths. 2 people were injured. Some homes were destroyed. A tsunami was reported. Depth unknown. 7 2
February
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the coast of Coquimbo Region 6.8 0.0 Depth unknown. , south of 7.2 0.0 Depth unknown.
March
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the east coast of Honshu 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown.
April
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Badakhshan Province 7.1 220.0 , Buryatia 6.5 10.0
May
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Kermadec Islands 8.2 15.0 , south of the Alaska Peninsula 7.4 35.0
June
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , La Libertad Department (El Salvador) 6.7 0.0 At least 101 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1917 San Salvador earthquake. Many homes were destroyed. Depth unknown. 101+ 6.6 60.0 Western Samoa Trust Territory 8.5 15.0 A tsunami was triggered by the 1917 Samoa earthquake. 2 people were killed. Many homes were destroyed. The earthquake caused some damage in its own right. 2
July
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured Taiwan, northeast of 7.2 0.0 Depth unknown. Taiwan, northeast of 7.0 0.0 Aftershock. Depth unknown. , San Juan Province, Argentina 6.9 60.0 , off the east coast of Honshu 7.0 0.0 Depth unknown. , Sandaun Province 7.5 35.0 , Sichuan Province 6.9 15.0 1,800 people were killed. Major destruction was caused in the area. Many homes were destroyed. 1,800 Sea of Japan 7.4 500.0
August
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , off the southeast coast of North Island 6.6 15.0 , Barat Daya Islands 7.3 100.0 , Meta Department 7.1 0.0 6 people were killed and 51 were injured. A few homes were destroyed. Depth unknown. 6 51+
November
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , northern Sumatra 7.1 0.0 Depth unknown. , Kermadec Islands 7.5 35.0 Depth unknown.
December
+DateCountry and location Mw Depth (km) MMINotes Casualties Dead Injured , Guatemala Department 6.0 0.0 Further destructive events took place into January 1918. In total the series caused 2,650 deaths. Major damage was caused with Guatemala City being hardest hit. Depth unknown. 2,650 , off the coast of Oaxaca 6.9 20.0
References