# List of earthquakes in 1952

This is a list of earthquakes in 1952. 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. Two major earthquakes occurred in 1952; in March a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Japan resulting in a robust aftershock sequence. Then in November, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake rocked the Kamchatka area of Russia, causing a major tsunami. This event was the largest and deadliest of the year; it was also one of the largest of all time.

## Overall
### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 4,000 | 9.0 | Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka | VII (Very strong) | 21.6 | November 4 |
| 2 | 103 | 5.7 | Turkey, Erzurum Province | VIII (Severe) | 20.0 | January 3 |
| 3 | 54 | 7.4 | China, eastern Xizang Province | X (Extreme) | 25.0 | August 17 |
| 4 | 33 | 8.1 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | VIII (Severe) | 45.0 | March 4 |
| 5 | 20 | 5.7 | Turkey, Adana Province | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | October 22 |
| 6 | 12 | 7.5 | United States, Central California | XI (Extreme) | 6.0 | July 21 |
* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 9.0 | 4,000 | Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka | VII (Very strong) | 21.6 | November 4 |
| 2 | 8.1 | 33 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | VIII (Severe) | 45.0 | March 4 |
| 3 | 7.5 | 12 | United States, Central California | XI (Extreme) | 6.0 | July 21 |
| 4 | 7.4 | 54 | China, eastern Xizang Province | X (Extreme) | 25.0 | August 17 |
| 5 | 7.3 | 0 | Philippines, northeast of Mindanao | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | March 19 |
| = 6 | 7.1 | 0 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | ( ) | 15.0 | March 4 |
| = 6 | 7.1 | 0 | Australia, southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | ( ) | 79.5 | May 9 |
| = 6 | 7.1 | 0 | Argentina, Jujuy Province | ( ) | 268.0 | September 21 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Indonesia, Wetar, Barat Daya Islands | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | February 14 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, Kyoto Prefecture, Honshu | ( ) | 369.0 | May 28 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, Nara Prefecture, Honshu | ( ) | 80.0 | July 17 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | December 6 |
* Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

## Notable events
### January

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 3 | Turkey, Erzurum Province | 5.7 | 20.0 | VIII | 103 people were killed and some damage was caused by the 1952 Hasankale earthquake. | 103 | |
| 13 | Taiwan, southeast of | 6.7 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 15 | Peru, Piura Region | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | China, Gansu Province | 6.0 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 31 | Fiji, south of | 6.5 | 477.0 | | | | |
| 31 | Mexico, off the coast of Chiapas | 6.8 | 82.5 | | | | |
| 31 | United Kingdom, Kigoma Region, Tanganyika | 6.2 | 20.0 | VII | | | |

### February

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 11 | Indonesia, Java Sea | 6.9 | 675.1 | | | | |
| 14 | Indonesia, Wetar, Barat Daya Islands | 7.0 | 25.0 | VII | | | |
| 25 | Tonga | 6.5 | 41.8 | | | | |
| 26 | Peru, Puno Region | 6.9 | 251.5 | | | | |
| 26 | Nicaragua, Rivas Department | 6.0 | 88.1 | | | | |

### March

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 2 | Nicaragua, off the southwest coast | 6.1 | 46.9 | V | | | |
| 4 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | 8.1 | 45.0 | VIII | The 1952 Hokkaido earthquake caused major destruction mainly due to a tsunami affecting the area. 33 people were killed and 572 were injured. 2,422 homes were destroyed. | 33 | 572 |
| 4 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 7.1 | 15.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 4 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.3 | 12.4 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 4 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 6.2 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 4 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.7 | 15.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 5 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.4 | 16.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 5 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.3 | 25.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 5 | Mexico, southern Gulf of California | 6.4 | 10.0 | V | | | |
| 7 | Japan, off the coast of Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu | 6.5 | 10.0 | VI | | | |
| 7 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.0 | 30.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 9 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | 6.9 | 49.5 | VI | Aftershock. 17 people were hurt and 113 homes collapsed. | | 17 |
| 9 | United States, Southeastern Alaska | 6.1 | 10.0 | | | | |
| 13 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.5 | 280.8 | | | | |
| 14 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.1 | 40.9 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 15 | Indonesia, southern Sumatra | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 19 | North Korea, Pyongyang | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 19 | Philippines, northeast of Mindanao | 7.3 | 15.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 23 | Indonesia, Talaud Islands | 6.2 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 25 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | | | |

### April

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 8 | Philippines, off the northwest coast of Mindanao | 6.3 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 10 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.3 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 14 | Indonesia, Talaud Islands | 6.2 | 70.0 | | | | |
| 15 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | 6.0 | 57.2 | V | Aftershock of March 4 event. | | |
| 15 | Fiji | 6.5 | 395.0 | | | | |
| 19 | Venezuela, Colombia | 6.5 | 28.2 | VI | | | |
| 28 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | 6.2 | 65.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 29 | Chile, O'Higgins Region | 6.0 | 50.0 | | | | |

### May

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 4 | Fiji, south of | 6.5 | 75.0 | | | | |
| 8 | Japan, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu | 6.0 | 48.9 | V | | | |
| 8 | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 6.6 | 101.4 | | | | |
| 9 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.8 | 390.0 | | | | |
| 9 | Australia, southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 7.1 | 79.5 | | | | |
| 13 | Costa Rica, Guanacaste Province | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 14 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.2 | 30.0 | | Aftershock of March 4 event. | | |
| 16 | Panama, off the south coast | 6.3 | 10.0 | | | | |
| 17 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.4 | 39.3 | | Aftershock of March 4 event. | | |
| 19 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.5 | 30.0 | IV | Aftershock of March 4 event. | | |
| 22 | Japan, southeast of the Ryukyu Islands | 6.2 | 30.2 | IV | | | |
| 23 | United States, off the west coast of Hawaii (island), Hawaii | 6.0 | 10.0 | VI | | | |
| 24 | Chile, off the coast of Tarapaca Region | 6.0 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 24 | Indonesia, Batu Islands | 6.6 | 30.0 | VI | | | |
| 26 | India, Arunachal Pradesh | 6.0 | 20.0 | VII | | | |
| 28 | Japan, Kyoto Prefecture, Honshu | 7.0 | 369.0 | | | | |

### June

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 4 | Colombia, off the west coast | 6.1 | 10.0 | | | | |
| 10 | Fiji | 6.5 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 11 | Argentina, San Juan Province, Argentina | 6.5 | 25.0 | VI | 1952 San Juan earthquake. | | |
| 17 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 19 | China, Yunnan Province | 6.7 | 10.0 | VIII | 10 homes were destroyed. | | |
| 19 | Samoa | 6.6 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 20 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 6.5 | 100.0 | | | | |
| 22 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.8 | 27.0 | | | | |
| 23 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 6.2 | 38.1 | V | | | |
| 25 | China, western Sichuan Province | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | | | |
| 30 | United Kingdom, Western Region, Uganda | 6.5 | 15.0 | VIII | | | |

### July

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 5 | Chile, Coquimbo Region | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 10 | Fiji | 6.5 | 685.6 | | | | |
| 13 | France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.5 | 0.0 | | Unknown depth. | | |
| 13 | New Hebrides Vanuatu | 6.8 | 280.0 | | | | |
| 13 | Indonesia, east of Buru | 6.5 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 17 | Japan Nara Prefecture, Honshu | 7.0 | 80.0 | | | | |
| 21 | United States, central California | 7.5 | 6.0 | XI | The 1952 Kern County earthquake was the largest quake to strike the conterminous states in nearly 50 years. Many aftershocks followed including some damaging ones. 12 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Damage costs reached $60 million (1952 rate). | 12 | 101+ |
| 24 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.6 | 100.0 | | | | |
| 24 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock of March 4 event. | | |
| 27 | Fiji | 6.9 | 502.2 | | | | |

### August

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 14 | Australia, southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 48.3 | V | | | |
| 15 | Fiji | 6.5 | 603.0 | | | | |
| 16 | Australia, southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 17 | China, eastern Xizang Province | 7.4 | 25.0 | X | The 1952 Damxung earthquake left 54 people dead. 774 homes were destroyed. | 54 | |
| 18 | Chile, off the coast of Coquimbo Region | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 22 | United States, central California | 5.5 | 6.0 | VIII | Aftershock of 1952 Kern County earthquake. 2 people were killed and at least 51 were injured. 90 homes were destroyed and damage costs were $10 million (1952 rate). | 2 | 51+ |
| 31 | Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido | 6.1 | 63.9 | V | Aftershock of March event. | | |

### September

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 9 | Costa Rica, off the west coast | 6.7 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 14 | China, southern Qinghai Province | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 19 | Australia, southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 64.0 | | | | |
| 21 | Argentina, Jujuy Province | 7.1 | 268.0 | | | | |
| 22 | United States, northern California | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 27 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, northern Kuril Islands | 6.2 | 60.0 | V | | | |
| 30 | China, Sichuan Province | 6.6 | 10.0 | IX | 4,196 homes were destroyed. | | |

### October

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 5 | China, northern Qinghai Province | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 8 | China, Shanxi Province | 5.8 | 15.0 | VIII | 5,043 homes were destroyed. | | |
| 10 | Pakistan, Baluchistan, Pakistan | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 11 | Australia, north of New Britain, Papua and New Guinea | 6.3 | 75.0 | V | | | |
| 18 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.3 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 22 | Turkey, Adana Province | 5.7 | 15.0 | VII | 20 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 20 | |
| 26 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.6 | 27.8 | | Series of earthquakes off the east coast of Honshu began with this event. | | |
| 26 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 27.7 | | | | |
| 26 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 24.2 | | | | |
| 27 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 22.5 | | | | |
| 28 | Haiti, Grand'Anse (department) | 6.2 | 25.0 | VII | | | |
| 28 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 29 | Tonga | 6.5 | 135.0 | | | | |
| 31 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 31 | China, Sichuan Province | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | | | |

### November

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 1 | Fiji | 6.9 | 170.7 | | | | |
| 4 | Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 9.0 | 21.6 | VII | One of the largest earthquakes of all time. The 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake triggered a major tsunami. Information on the disaster was sparse due to secrecy by the Soviet Union government. Estimated death tolls for the tsunami range from 4,000 to as much as 17,000. Major damage was caused in the area. Hawaii saw some damage from the waves. Many aftershocks followed but to prevent cluttering only magnitude 6.5 or greater ones are included. | 4,000 | |
| 6 | Australia, Madang Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.8 | 52.1 | VI | | | |
| 7 | Mexico, Gulf of California | 6.3 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 16 | Australia, West New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 20 | Nicaragua, off the west coast | 6.3 | 35.0 | IV | | | |
| 22 | United States, central California | 6.2 | 6.0 | VII | | | |
| 28 | Australia, southeast of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.8 | 107.1 | | | | |
| 29> | United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska | 6.8 | 20.0 | | | | |

### December

| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Casualties | Casualties |
| Date | Country and location | M$_w$ | Depth (km) | MMI | Notes | Dead | Injured |
| 6 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 7.0 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 7 | United States, Near Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 8 | China, Yunnan Province | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | 60 homes were destroyed. | | |
| 17 | Greece, south of Crete | 6.5 | 25.0 | V | | | |
| 24 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 45.0 | V | Foreshock. | | |
| 24 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.8 | 21.2 | VII | | | |
| 24 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 25 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 25 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 45.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 25 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 30.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 25 | Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan | 6.2 | 10.0 | VII | | | |
| 27 | New Hebrides, east of Vanuatu | 6.5 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 28 | Philippines, southeast of Mindanao | 6.5 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 29 | Fiji | 6.5 | 481.3 | | | | |
| 31 | Greece, north of Crete | 6.0 | 0.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. Unknown depth. | | |
| 31 | Greece, north of Crete | 6.0 | 0.0 | | | |

### Kamchatka aftershock table

| Date (YYYY-MM-DD) | Time (UTC) | Location | Depth | Magnitude |
| 1952-11-04 | 20:48:52 | northern Kuril Islands | 30.0 km (19 mi) | 6.9 |
| 1952-11-04 | 22:13:04 | off east coast of Kamchatka | 22.7 km (14 mi) | 6.5 |
| 1952-11-04 | 22:19:28 | off east coast of Kamchatka | 20.0 km (12 mi) | 6.7 |
| 1952-11-05 | 05:57:53 | northern Kuril Islands | 32.8 km (20 mi) | 6.5 |
| 1952-11-05 | 13:06:31 | off the east coast of Kamchatka | 25.0 km (16 mi) | 6.5 |
| 1952-11-06 | 19:46:06 | off the east coast of Kamchatka | 30.0 km (19 mi) | 6.6 |
| 1952-11-07 | 14:08:36 | northern Kuril Islands | 54.1 km (34 mi) | 6.5 |
| 1952-11-08 | 19:33:25 | east of Kuril Islands | 20.0 km (12 mi) | 6.5 |
| 1952-11-13 | 07:58:54 | northern Kuril Islands | 45.0 km (28 mi) | 6.5 |
| 1952-11-29 | 08:22:43 | off the east coast of Kamchatka | 23.7 km (15 mi) | 6.7 |