# List of earthquakes in 1953

This is a list of earthquakes in 1953. 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 was a fairly active year. There were no great quakes above magnitude 8.0+ as experienced in previous years. Magnitude 7.0+ quakes numbered 11 in all. Japan led the way in magnitude terms. Other large quakes struck Chile, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Turkey. The quakes with the most human casualties were in Turkey, Iran and Greece with the vast majority of the death toll coming from these events.

## Overall
### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 1,070 | 7.3 | Turkey, Balıkesir Province | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | March 18 |
| 2 | 970 | 6.6 | Iran, Semnan Province | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | February 12 |
| 3 | 476 | 6.8 | Greece, just east of Cephalonia | X (Extreme) | 10.0 | August 12 |
| 4 | 40 | 6.3 | United Kingdom, off the west coast of Paphos, Cyprus | X (Extreme) | 20.0 | September 10 |
| 5 | 37 | 5.5 | Turkey, Edirne Province | V (Moderate) | 35.0 | June 18 |
* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 7.9 | 1 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Honshu | V (Moderate) | 25.0 | November 25 |
| 2 | 7.5 | 9 | Chile, Biobio Region | X (Extreme) | 66.0 | May 6 |
| = 3 | 7.4 | 0 | Australia, southern New Ireland, Papua and New Guinea | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | April 23 |
| = 3 | 7.4 | 3 | Chile, Antofagasta Region | ( ) | 106.0 | December 7 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 1,070 | Turkey, Balıkesir Province | VIII (Severe) | 10.0 | March 18 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 0 | United Kingdom, west of Saint Lucia | VII (Very strong) | 128.8 | March 19 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 6 | Peru, off the coast of Tumbes Region | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | December 12 |
| 5 | 7.2 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | V (Moderate) | 236.2 | July 2 |
| 6 | 7.1 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | VI (Strong) | 35.0 | November 4 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | United States, Near Islands, Alaska | ( ) | 21.3 | January 5 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | ( ) | 350.0 | July 4 |
* 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 |
| 5 | United States, Near Islands, Alaska | 7.0 | 21.3 | | | | |
| 5 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.8 | 49.2 | | | | |
| 7 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea | 6.4 | 55.2 | VI | | | |
| 11 | Canada, Yukon Territory | 6.3 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 12 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.6 | 54.2 | V | | | |
| 19 | Japan, south of Hokkaido | 6.1 | 44.2 | IV | | | |
| 20 | Indonesia, Molucca Sea | 6.5 | 70.0 | | | | |
| 25 | Haiti, Nippes | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | 2 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 2 | |
| 30 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 6.5 | 93.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 6 | Japan, south of Hokkaido | 6.6 | 45.1 | V | | | |
| 12 | Iran, Semnan Province | 6.6 | 15.0 | VII | 970 people were killed in the 1953 Torud earthquake. | 970 | |
| 14 | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | 6.2 | 80.0 | | | | |
| 14 | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 6.5 | 75.0 | | | | |
| 26 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 6.8 | 25.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 3 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.6 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 4 | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | 6.2 | 581.3 | | | | |
| 5 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.3 | 52.0 | | | | |
| 5 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.5 | 30.0 | | | | |
| 14 | Philippines, southern Mindanao | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Turkey, Balıkesir Province | 7.3 | 10.0 | VIII | The 1953 Yenice-Gonen earthquake resulted in 1,070 deaths. Property damage costs were $3.57 million (1953 rate). | 1,070 | |
| 19 | United Kingdom, west of Saint Lucia | 7.3 | 128.8 | VII | | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | Ecuador, off the coast | 6.1 | 10.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | | |
| 1 | Ecuador, off the coast | 6.2 | 20.0 | VI | | |
| 2 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 55.0 | V | | | |
| 4 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 28.4 | IV | | | |
| 5 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 6.0 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 6 | Indonesia, Tanimbar Islands | 6.3 | 63.3 | | | | |
| 14 | Brazil, Acre (state) | 6.5 | 617.6 | | | | |
| 17 | Peru, Loreto Region | 6.1 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | China, eastern Xizang Province | 6.0 | 10.0 | VII | | | |
| 23 | Australia, southern New Ireland (island), Papua and New Guinea | 7.4 | 35.0 | VII | A tsunami was generated. Damage was minor with costs of $13,000 (1953 rate) being reported. | | |
| 29 | United Kingdom, off the west coast of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands | 6.2 | 19.0 | VI | | | |
| 30 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.6 | 45.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 3 | China, Yunnan Province | 5.6 | 35.0 | VII | Some homes were destroyed. | | |
| 6 | Chile, Biobio Region | 7.5 | 66.0 | X | 9 people were killed and 26 were injured in the 1953 Concepción earthquake. Major damage was caused with costs reaching $500 million (1953 rate). | 9 | 26 |
| 20 | Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini | 6.7 | 115.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Japan, south of Hokkaido | 6.2 | 49.3 | V | | | |
| 31 | Dominican Republic, Hermanas Mirabal Province | 6.6 | 16.7 | VII | | | |

### 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 |
| 10 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.0 | 50.0 | IV | | | |
| 15 | United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska | 6.5 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 16 | Fiji, south of | 6.5 | 113.9 | | | | |
| 18 | Turkey, Edirne Province | 5.5 | 35.0 | V | 37 people were killed. Some damage was caused. | 37 | |
| 18 | Australia, southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, southern Kamchatka | 6.1 | 48.4 | V | | | |
| 25 | Indonesia, Flores | 6.8 | 25.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake | | |
| 26 | Indonesia, Flores | 6.8 | 25.0 | VII | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, northern Kuril Islands | 6.5 | 53.4 | VI | | | |
| 2 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.2 | 236.2 | V | | | |
| 4 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 7.0 | 350.0 | | | | |
| 6 | Australia, off the east coast of mainland Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 7 | Indonesia, northern Sumatra | 6.6 | 238.6 | | | | |
| 9 | China, southern Xinjiang Province | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | | | |
| 12 | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 6.3 | 28.0 | VI | | | |
| 20 | Fiji, south of | 6.5 | 102.7 | | | | |
| 21 | Japan, Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Islands | 6.1 | 37.3 | | | | |
| 22 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.4 | 58.1 | VI | | | |
| 26 | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 6.7 | 190.4 | | | | |
| 29 | El Salvador, off the coast | 6.0 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 31 | Chile, Santiago Metropolitan Region | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | | | |

### 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 |
| 9 | Chile, Antofagasta Region | 6.2 | 117.2 | | | | |
| 9 | Greece, east of Cephalonia | 6.3 | 15.0 | VI | Foreshock. | | |
| 11 | Greece, east of Cephalonia | 6.5 | 10.0 | IX | Foreshock. | | |
| 12 | Greece, east of Cephalonia | 6.8 | 10.0 | X | The 1953 Ionian earthquake was the largest of a series of events which caused major destruction in the area. 476 people were killed and 2,412 were injured. 27,773 homes were destroyed. Property damage costs were $100 million (1953 rate). | 476 | 2,412 |
| 12 | Greece, north of Zakynthos | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | Aftershock. | | |
| 12 | Greece, east of Cephalonia | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 12 | Tonga | 6.3 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 13 | France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.6 | 111.8 | | | | |
| 17 | Indonesia, Bali Sea | 6.0 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 25 | Australia, southeast of New Britain, Papua and New Guinea | 6.3 | 30.0 | V | | | |
| 27 | Japan, central Hokkaido | 6.0 | 169.9 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 4 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.9 | 56.3 | VII | | | |
| 4 | Chile, off the coast of Valparaíso Region | 6.3 | 36.6 | VI | | | |
| 5 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.1 | 50.7 | V | | | |
| 7 | Turkey, Çankırı Province | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | | | |
| 10 | United Kingdom, off the west coast of Paphos, Cyprus | 6.3 | 20.0 | X | The 1953 Paphos earthquake killed 40 people and 100 were left injured. 500 homes were destroyed. | 40 | 100 |
| 14 | Fiji, south of Suva | 6.4 | 10.0 | VII | The 1953 Suva earthquake was a rare deadly event in Fiji. This event was near to the capitol which contributed to the destruction. A tsunami was generated which caused much of the 7 deaths and 12 injuries. Some homes were destroyed. | 7 | 12 |
| 17 | Tonga | 6.4 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 23 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.6 | 55.2 | V | | | |
| 29 | New Zealand, Bay of Plenty | 6.9 | 310.8 | | | | |
| 30 | Mexico, far southern Gulf of California | 6.8 | 10.0 | V | | | |

### 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 | Australia, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Papua and New Guinea | 6.3 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 6 | Australia, Bismarck Sea, Papua and New Guinea | 6.6 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 8 | China, western Xizang Province | 6.1 | 10.0 | VII | Foreshock. | | |
| 11 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Kuril Islands | 6.6 | 49.8 | V | | | |
| 11 | China, western Xizang Province | 6.5 | 30.0 | VI | | | |
| 13 | Mexico, northern Gulf of California | 6.2 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 14 | Japan, Hokkaido | 6.9 | 113.2 | | | | |
| 21 | Greece, Cephalonia | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | Aftershock of August event. | | |
| 27 | Bolivia, Potosí Department | 6.8 | 271.9 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 4 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.1 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 7 | Indonesia, Batu Islands | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 9 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.4 | 33.3 | IV | | | |
| 10 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.6 | 56.7 | VI | | | |
| 13 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.6 | 25.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 17 | Guatemala, off the southwest coast | 6.8 | 25.0 | V | | | |
| 25 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Honshu | 7.9 | 25.0 | V | 1 person was killed and some damage was reported. A small tsunami was reported which destroyed some boats. | 1 | |
| 26 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Honshu | 6.5 | 25.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 26 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Honshu | 6.7 | 25.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 27 | Fiji | 6.2 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 29 | China, northern Xinjiang Province | 6.0 | 20.0 | VII | | | |
| 30 | Fiji | 6.0 | 15.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.8 | 233.4 | | | | |
| 1 | Mexico, off the coast of Guerrero | 6.9 | 0.0 | | Unknown depth. | | |
| 1 | Fiji, south of | 6.5 | 499.4 | | | | |
| 2 | Australia, Sandaun Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.6 | 25.0 | VII | | | |
| 3 | China, western Xizang Province | 6.5 | 30.0 | VII | | | |
| 7 | Chile, Antofagasta Region | 7.2 | 106.0 | | 3 people were killed and damage costs were around $7.3 million (1953 rate). | 3 | |
| 7 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.2 | 35.0 | IV | | | |
| 12 | Peru, off the coast of Tumbes Region | 7.3 | 25.0 | IX | The 1953 Tumbes earthquake resulted in 6 deaths and 20 injuries. 200 homes were destroyed. | 6 | 20 |
| 20 | Chile, off the coast of Coquimbo Region | 6.3 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 22 | Philippines, off the west coast of Luzon | 6.0 | 25.0 | IV | | | |
| 24 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.5 | 25.0 | | Foreshock. | | |
| 25 | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, off the east coast of Kamchatka | 6.8 | 35.0 | V | | | |