This is a list of earthquakes in 1988 . Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Lower magnitude events are included if they have caused death, injury, or damage. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap or the National Geophysical Data Center . Earthquake activity in 1988 was relatively low, with only 11 major events and none of magnitude 8.0+ occurring. Nevertheless, extremely destructive events took place in Burma, Nepal, China and Armenia. Burma saw two deadly earthquakes just a few months apart with the latter (on the Chinese border) claiming the lives of nearly a thousand. The Armenia earthquake in December was the deadliest earthquake in this year, with more than 25,000 deaths recorded. Early this year, Australia was also struck by an unusual series of strong earthquakes.
Note : At least 10 casualties
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
= 1
7.8
0
United States , Gulf of Alaska
V (Moderate )
10.0
March 6
= 2
7.7
938
China , Burma , Myanmar–China border region
X (Extreme )
17.8
November 6
= 3
7.6
0
Solomon Islands , offshore
VII (Very strong )
34.0
August 10
= 4
7.3
33
Burma , Sagaing Region
VI (Strong )
90.5
August 6
= 4
7.3
0
Philippines , offshore Catanduanes
VII (Very strong )
24.9
February 2
= 5
7.2
0
Chile , Antofagasta
VII (Very strong )
36.9
February 5
= 6
7.1
0
Tonga offshore
- ( )
35.2
October 8
= 6
7.1
0
Peru offshore
- ( )
33.1
April 12
= 7
7.0
0
Indonesia , Maluku Islands
VI (Strong )
27.7
July 25
= 7
7.0
0
Papua New Guinea , New Britain region
- ( )
16.6
July 23
= 7
7.0
0
Chile , Antofagasta
VII (Very strong )
33.0
January 19
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
January Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw Chile Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 8
February Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw Philippines Deadliest 5.9 Mw Bangladesh 2 dead Total fatalities 2 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 12
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
5[ 15]
Chile , Antofagasta
7.2
36.9
VII
Second mainshock, caused some damages in Taltal .[ 16]
A tsunami of 10 cm was reported.[ 17]
-
-
5[ 18]
Chile , near the coast of Antofagasta
6.5
30.7
VI
Aftershock of the 7.2 earthquake nearly five hours later.
-
-
6[ 19] [ 20]
Bangladesh , India-Bangladesh border region
5.9
33.0
VI
Damage reported in Sylhel . Felt throughout the country, and in Tripura , Assam and Meghalaya , India .
2
100
6[ 21]
Indonesia , Kepulauan Tanimbar
6.2
38.5
-
-
-
6[ 22]
Bolivia , Oruro
6.5
285.2
-
-
-
6[ 23]
Tonga
6.2
125.5
-
-
-
7[ 24]
United States , 75 km WNW of Ninilchik , Alaska
6.4
134.0
V
-
-
7[ 25]
United States , south of the Aleutian Islands
6.4
33.0
-
-
-
13[ 26]
Soviet Union , Kazakhstan
6.1
-
-
Nuclear explosion
-
-
16[ 27]
United States , Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
6.0
33.0
-
-
-
20[ 28]
Indonesia , Kepulauan Barat Daya
6.5
314.5
IV
-
-
22[ 29]
Chile , Tarapaca
6.7
70.3
VII
-
-
24[ 30]
Philippines , Catanduanes
7.3
24.9
VII
-
-
26[ 31]
Southwest Indian Ridge
6.8
10.0
-
-
-
29[ 32]
Soviet Union , Komandorskiye Ostrova
6.9
33.0
-
-
-
March Strongest magnitude 7.8 United States Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 8
April Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Peru Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 8
May Strongest magnitude 6.9 Mw Indonesia Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 12
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1[ 52]
United Kingdom , South Sandwich Islands region
6.2
137.9
-
-
-
3[ 53]
New Caledonia , southeast of the Loyalty Islands
6.1
10.8
-
-
-
4[ 54]
Soviet Union , Kazakhstan
6.1
0.0
-
Nuclear explosion
-
-
4[ 55]
Northern Mariana Islands , Pagan region
6.4
122.5
-
-
-
5[ 56]
Chile , Easter Island region
6.3
10.0
-
-
-
-
5[ 57]
Chile , Easter Island region
6.1
10.0
-
Aftershock
-
-
6[ 58]
Nicaragua
6.6
86.7
VI
-
-
6[ 59]
Japan , Hokkaido
6.0
72.3
V
-
-
20[ 60]
central Mid-Atlantic Ridge
6.1
10.0
-
-
-
21[ 61]
Chile , offshore Valparaiso
6.1
42.1
VI
-
-
22[ 62]
United States , Unimak Island region
6.0
33.0
-
-
-
30[ 63]
Indonesia , Kepulauan Barat Daya
6.9
86.3
VI
-
-
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
2[ 74]
Vanuatu
6.3
142.7
IV
-
-
3[ 75]
Federated States of Micronesia , State of Yap
6.6
14.6
-
-
-
5[ 76] [ 77] [ 78]
Papua New Guinea , New Britain region
6.8
53.4
VI
Some damage was reported. Triggered a tsunami.
-
-
6 [ 79]
Japan , Hokkaido
6.3
30.1
-
-
-
11[ 80]
Philippines , Mindanao
6.0
66.9
-
-
-
18[ 81]
Soviet Union , Komandorskiye Ostrova
6.0
23.2
-
-
-
19[ 82]
Tonga
6.4
137.0
-
-
-
20[ 83] [ 84]
Taiwan
5.9
50.8
V
Landslides blocked a highway between Hua-lien and Su-hua.
1
1
23[ 85]
New Caledonia , southeast of the Loyalty Islands
6.6
18.5
-
-
-
23[ 86]
Papua New Guinea , New Britain region
7.0
16.6
-
-
-
25[ 87]
Indonesia , Kepulauan Aru region
7.0
27.7
VI
-
-
27[ 88]
Vanuatu
6.7
171.6
IV
-
-
27[ 89]
Vanuatu
6.0
176.8
-
Aftershock
-
-
28[ 90]
Bolivia , Potosi
6.2
279.3
-
-
-
31[ 91]
New Caledonia , southeast of the Loyalty Islands
6.6
55.5
-
-
-
August Strongest magnitude 7.6 Mw Solomon Islands Deadliest 6.9 Mw Nepal India 706-1,091 dead Total fatalities 746-1,131 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 13
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
6 [ 92]
Burma , Sagaing Region
7.3
90.5
Although the 1988 Myanmar–India earthquake had an epicenter in Burma, much of the devastation was in neighboring India and Bangladesh. A seiche occurred in a river which capsized a ferry, killing three and leaving 30 injured or missing. This earthquake was felt in Nepal and the Soviet Union.
33
30
6 [ 93] [ 94]
Papua New Guinea , New Britain region
6.1
25.1
-
-
6 [ 95]
Afghanistan , Hindu Kush region
6.3
195.0
-
-
10 [ 96]
Solomon Islands
7.6
34.0
Earthquake generated a tsunami which killed one and destroyed homes in 13 villages.[ 97]
1
-
10 [ 98]
Solomon Islands
6.6
39.8
VI
Aftershock
-
-
10[ 99]
Chile , Easter Island region
6.0
10.0
-
-
-
10[ 100]
Vanuatu
6.8
124.8
VI
-
-
11[ 101]
Mauritius – Reunion region
6.2
10.0
-
-
-
11[ 102]
Iran
6.1
33.0
VII
Some damage reported.
1
-
14[ 103]
Sea of Okhotsk
6.1
644.8
-
-
-
14[ 104]
Chile , offshore Atacama
6.7
32.5
VI
-
-
15[ 105]
Philippines , Mindanao
6.1
52.0
V
-
-
17[ 106]
Indonesia , Java
6.0
27.1
V
-
-
17
Chile , offshore Atacama
6.1
38.5
VI
Aftershock
-
-
20[ 107]
Nepal , Nepal-India border region
6.9
57.4
VIII
The 1988 Nepal earthquake killed between 706 and 1,091 people on both sides of the Nepal-India border. The damage cost was about $131.5 million. A seiche in the Jamuna River killed 2 and left many missing.
706-1,091
Many
September Strongest magnitude 6.7 Mw Japan Deadliest Landslide PNG 74 dead Total fatalities 74 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 4
October Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Tonga Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 4
November Strongest magnitude 7.7 Mw China , Burma Deadliest 7.7 Mw China , Burma 938 dead Total fatalities 942 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 2
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1[ 119]
United Kingdom , South Sandwich Islands region
6.3
33.0
3[ 120] [ 121]
Guatemala
6.6
68.5
VII
About 100 buildings damaged. Landslides and damage to roads. Felt in El Salvador, and Mexico.
5
3[ 122] [ 123]
United States , Puerto Rico region
6.0
33.3
V
Minor damage at Catano , Puerto Rico.
5[ 124]
China , southern Qinghai
6.2
7.6
IX
5[ 125]
New Caledonia , southeast of the Loyalty Islands
6.2
42.3
6[ 126]
China , Myanmar , Myanmar-China border region
7.7
17.8
IX-X
The 1988 Lancang earthquake is the largest and deadliest earthquake in Yunnan since 1970. Heavy damage and casualties were reported in Lancang and Mangliang county where over 200,000 buildings were destroyed. The earthquake could be felt in Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Total cost of damage is around US$270 million.
938
3,900
6[ 127]
China , Myanmar , Myanmar-China border region
6.4
10.0
VIII
Aftershock
7[ 128]
Fiji
6.8
21.8
7[ 129]
Molucca Sea
6.0
65.7
10[ 130]
China , Guangxi
4.6
10.0
IV
Damage in Qinzhou and Fangcheng .
71
14[ 131]
Papua New Guinea , New Ireland region
6.7
33.0
17[ 132]
Philippines , Samar
6.6
19.3
VII
Damage in Catarman .
29
18[ 133]
Papua New Guinea , New Britain region
6.6
61.0
VI
20[ 134]
southeast Indian Ridge
6.1
10.0
25[ 135]
southeast Indian Ridge
6.3
10.0
25[ 136]
Canada , Saguenay Valley region, Quebec
5.9
28.9
VII
1988 Saguenay earthquake
30[ 137]
China , Myanmar , Myanmar-China border region
6.1
10.0
VII
Several people injured and unconfirmed reports of nearly 10 people killed.[ 138]
December Strongest magnitude 6.8 Soviet Union Deadliest 6.8 Soviet Union 25,000 deaths Total fatalities 25,000 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 6
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
5 [ 139]
Tonga
6.4
40.1
7 [ 140]
Soviet Union , Armenia
6.8
5.4
X
The 1988 Armenian earthquake was the deadliest earthquake of 1988. With an epicenter in what is now Armenia, it seriously damaged and destroyed thousands of homes and public infrastructures, killing at least 25,000 and injuring 31,000.
25,000
31,000
8 [ 141]
Panama
6.2
10.0
12 [ 142]
Norway , Jan Mayen Island region
6.0
10.0
23 [ 143]
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands
6.4
30.7
24 [ 144]
Argentina , Jujuy
6.1
193.6
^ "M 6.0 – Hokkaido, Japan region" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 5.2 – Nei Mongol-Ningxia border region, China" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "Albania – Earthquake Jan 1988 UNDRO Information Reports 1-2" . ReliefWeb. 9 January 1988.
^ "M 5.9 – Albania" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.6 – Kermadec Islands region" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.4 – Tonga" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 7.0 – Antofagasta, Chile" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.2 – Vanuatu" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.3 – Northern Territory, Australia" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.3 – Northern Territory, Australia" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.7 – Northern Territory, Australia" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "Earthquake Event Information AUSTRALIA: TENNANT CREEK" . NGDC .
^ Hoy, Tiffany (10 July 2012). "Australia's worst earthquakes" . Australian Geographic .
^ "M 6.0 – Tonga" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 7.2 – Antofagasta, Chile" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "Significant Earthquake Information CHILE: TALTAL" . NGDC .
^ "Tsunami Event Information NORTHERN CHILE" . NGDC .
^ "M 6.5 – near the coast of Antofagasta, Chile" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 5.9 – India-Bangladesh border region" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "Significant Earthquake Information BANGLADESH: SYLHET; INDIA: TIPURA-ASSAM" . NGDC .
^ "M 6.2 – Kepulauan Tanimbar, Indonesia" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.5 – Oruro, Bolivia" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.2 – Tonga" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.4 – 75 km WNW of Ninilchik, Alaska" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.4 – south of the Aleutian Islands" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.1 Nuclear Explosion – eastern Kazakhstan" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.0 – Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.5 – Kepulauan Barat Daya, Indonesia" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.7 – Tarapaca, Chile" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 7.3 – Catanduanes, Philippines" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.8 – Southwest Indian Ridge" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.9 – Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia region" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 7.8 – Gulf of Alaska" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.2 – Gulf of Alaska" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.7 – Trinidad region, Trinidad and Tobago" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.6 – Fiji region" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.0 – Panama-Costa Rica border region" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.2 – Bismarck Sea" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.5 – Laptev Sea" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.2 – northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.2 – Northwest Territories, Canada" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 5.9 – southern Iran" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.3 – Tonga" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.1 Nuclear Explosion – eastern Kazakhstan" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.0 – Kyushu, Japan" . USGS-ANSS.
^ "M 6.4 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.1 – near the north coast of New Guinea, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 7.1 – near the coast of southern Peru" .
^ "M 6.2 – near the coast of southern Peru" .
^ "M 6.3 – South Sandwich Islands region" .
^ "M 6.3 – Solomon Islands" .
^ "M 6.2 – South Sandwich Islands region" .
^ "M 6.1 – southeast of the Loyalty Islands" .
^ "M 6.1 Nuclear Explosion – eastern Kazakhstan" .
^ "M 6.4 – Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands" .
^ "M 6.3 – Easter Island region" .
^ "M 6.1 – Easter Island region" .
^ "M 6.6 – Nicaragua" .
^ "M 6.0 – Hokkaido, Japan region" .
^ "M 6.1 – central Mid-Atlantic Ridge" .
^ "M 6.1 – offshore Valparaiso, Chile" .
^ "M 6.0 – Unimak Island region, Alaska" .
^ "M 6.9 – Kepulauan Barat Daya, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.7 – South Island of New Zealand" .
^ "M 6.5 – Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.3 – Samoa Islands region" .
^ "M 6.5 – Santa Cruz Islands" .
^ "M 6.7 – Gulf of California" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.2 – Mindoro, Philippines" .
^ "Significant Earthquake Information PHILIPPINES: MINDORO: SAN JOSE, CALAPAN" .
^ "M 5.7 – Luzon, Philippines" .
^ "M 6.0 – Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.0 – west of Macquarie Island" .
^ "M 6.3 – Vanuatu" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.6 – State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.8 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "Significant Earthquake: PAPUA NEW GUINEA: NEW BRITAIN: KANDRIAN, ARAWE" . National Geophysical Data Center .
^ "Tsunami Event Information PAPUA NEW GUINEA" .
^ "M 6.3 – Hokkaido, Japan region" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.0 – Mindanao, Philippines" .
^ "M 6.0 – Komandorskiye Ostrova, Russia region" .
^ "M 6.4 – Tonga" .
^ "M 5.9 – Taiwan" .
^ "Significant Earthquake Information TAIWAN: HUALIEN, SU-HUA" .
^ "M 6.6 – southeast of the Loyalty Islands" .
^ "M 7.0 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 7.0 – Kepulauan Aru region, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.7 – Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.0 – Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.2 – Potosi, Bolivia" .
^ "M 6.6 – southeast of the Loyalty Islands" .
^ "M 7.3 – Myanmar" . United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 29 December 2020 .
^ "M 6.1 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "Significant Earthquake: TURKEY: MARMARA SEA" . National Geophysical Data Center . August 9, 1912. Retrieved November 23, 2015 .
^ "M 6.3 – Hindu Kush region, Afghanistan" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 7.6 – Solomon Islands" .
^ "Tsunami Event Information SOLOMON ISLANDS" .
^ "M 6.6 – Solomon Islands" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.0 – Easter Island region" .
^ "M 6.8 – Vanuatu" .
^ "M 6.2 – Mauritius – Reunion region" .
^ "M 6.1 – southern Iran" .
^ "M 6.1 – Sea of Okhotsk" .
^ "M 6.7 – offshore Atacama, Chile" .
^ "M 6.1 – Mindanao, Philippines" .
^ "M 6.0 – Java, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.9 – Nepal-India border region" . USGS-ANSS. Retrieved 29 December 2020 .
^ "M 4.3 Explosion – eastern New Guinea region, Papua New Guinea" . USGS-ANSS.
^ Drechsler, Mark Kenneth (1989). "The Kaiapit Landslide, Papua New Guinea". International Conference on Engineering Geology in Tropical Terrain . Universiti Kebangsaan, Bangi, Malaysia.
^ "M 6.7 – Izu Islands, Japan region" .
^ "M 6.1 Nuclear Explosion – eastern Kazakhstan" .
^ "M 6.0 – Antofagasta, Chile" .
^ "M 6.2 – Ecuador" .
^ "M 6.3 – southern East Pacific Rise" .
^ "M 6.1 – New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog" . United States Geological Survey. October 31, 1912. Retrieved November 25, 2015 .
^ "M 6.3 – Kermadec Islands region" .
^ "M 6.0 – Taiwan region" .
^ "M 6.3 – South Sandwich Islands region" .
^ "M 6.6 – Guatemala" .
^ "Earthquake Event Information GUATEMALA: S PALIN, SAN VICENTE PACAYA" .
^ "M 6.0 – Puerto Rico region" .
^ "Significant Earthquake Information PUERTO RICO: MONA PASSAGE: CATANO" .
^ "M 6.2 – southern Qinghai, China" .
^ "M 6.2 – southeast of the Loyalty Islands" .
^ "M 7.7 – Myanmar-China border region" . USGS-ANSS. 1988. Retrieved 29 December 2020 .
^ "M 6.4 – Myanmar-China border region" .
^ "M 6.8 – south of the Fiji Islands" .
^ "M 6.0 – Molucca Sea" .
^ "M 4.6 – Guangxi, China" .
^ "M 6.7 – New Ireland region, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.6 – Samar, Philippines" .
^ "M 6.6 – New Britain region, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.1 – southeast Indian Ridge" .
^ "M 6.3 – southeast Indian Ridge" .
^ "M 5.9 – Saguenay Valley region, Quebec, Canada" .
^ "M 6.1 – Myanmar-China border region" .
^ "Quake rocks Yunnan" . The Straits Times . Agence France-Presse. 2 December 1988. Retrieved 25 June 2024 .
^ "M 6.4 – Tonga" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.8 – Armenia" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.2 – south of Panama" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.0 – Jan Mayen Island region" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.4 – Kermadec Islands, New Zealand" . United States Geological Survey.
^ "M 6.1 – Jujuy, Argentina" . United States Geological Survey.