# List of earthquakes in 1956

This is a list of earthquakes in 1956. 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. Again a fairly active year. 11 magnitude 7.0+ earthquakes were recorded with the largest of those striking Greece in the summer. The event in Greece measured 7.7 and was one of the largest ever to affect the country. In all earthquakes in 1956 resulted in 910 fatalities. Iran had the deadliest event of the year with 347 deaths in October. Spain, Burma, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Greece and India also suffered from deadly events.

## Overall
### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 347 | 6.4 | Iran, Hormozgan Province | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | October 31 |
| 2 | 156 | 6.0 | India, Gujarat | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | July 21 |
| 3 | 148 | 5.3 | Lebanon, Mount Lebanon Governorate | ( ) | 15.0 | March 16 |
| 4 | 100 | 7.3 | Afghanistan, Baghlan Province | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | June 9 |
| 5 | 56 | 7.7 | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | July 9 |
| 6 | 51 | 5.5 | Greece, Thessaly | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | November 2 |
| 7 | 38 | 6.8 | Burma, Sagaing Region | VI (Strong) | 34.3 | July 16 |
| 8 | 12 | 5.0 | Spain, Southern Spain | VIII (Severe) | 6.3 | April 19 |
* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 7.7 | 56 | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | July 9 |
| 2 | 7.6 | 0 | Fiji | IV (Light) | 419.1 | May 23 |
| 3 | 7.5 | 0 | Japan, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu | VII (Very strong) | 66.1 | September 29 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 0 | Japan, Izu Islands | ( ) | 484.1 | February 18 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 100 | Afghanistan, Baghlan Province | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | June 9 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | VII (Very strong) | 100.4 | October 11 |
| 5 | 7.2 | 0 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | ( ) | 136.8 | July 18 |
| 6 | 7.1 | 0 | Nicaragua off the west coast of Nicaragua | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | October 24 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Tonga, south of | ( ) | 35.0 | January 10 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Ecuador, Manabí Province | IX (Violent) | 20.0 | January 16 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Fiji, south of | ( ) | 198.0 | December 27 |
* 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 |
| 1 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 170.0 | | | | |
| 8 | Mexico, Guerrero | 6.2 | 20.0 | VI | At least 101 people were injured and major property damage was caused. | | 101+ |
| 8 | Chile, off the coast of Arica and Parinacota Region | 6.6 | 51.5 | VII | At least 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1+ | |
| 9 | Fiji, south of | 6.5 | 610.0 | | | | |
| 10 | Tonga, south of | 7.0 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 11 | New Zealand, Taranaki, North Island | 6.2 | 180.0 | | | | |
| 12 | Hungary, Budapest | 5.8 | 15.0 | VII | The 1956 Budapest earthquake struck the eastern suburbs of the city. 2 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 2 | |
| 14 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.0 | 46.5 | | | | |
| 16 | Ecuador, Manabí Province | 7.0 | 20.0 | IX | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 18 | Chile, Antofagasta Region | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 21 | Burma, Chin State | 6.1 | 60.0 | | | | |
| 23 | Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia | 6.6 | 75.1 | | | | |
| 28 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.0 | 50.0 | VI | | | |
| 30 | New Zealand, north of North Island | 6.4 | 15.0 | V | | | |
| 31 | Australia, New Ireland (island), Papua and New Guinea | 6.9 | 400.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 6.7 | 370.1 | | | | |
| 1 | Italy, off the west coast of Calabria | 6.2 | 225.0 | | | | |
| 4 | United Kingdom, Katavi Region, Tanganyika | 6.2 | 0.0 | | Unknown depth. | | |
| 9 | Mexico, Baja California | 6.8 | 6.0 | VIII | | | |
| 9 | Mexico, Baja California | 6.2 | 6.0 | VIII | Aftershock. | | |
| 10 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.1 | 38.5 | | | | |
| 12 | Philippines, off the northwest coast of Luzon | 6.4 | 20.7 | | | | |
| 13 | Philippines, off the northwest coast of Luzon | 6.1 | 15.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 14 | Philippines, off the northwest coast of Luzon | 6.1 | 15.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 14 | Mexico, Baja California | 6.4 | 6.0 | rowspan="2"| Southeast of previous weeks events. Doublet earthquake. | | |
| 15 | Mexico, Baja California | 6.3 | 15.0 | VII | | |
| 18 | Japan, Izu Islands | 7.3 | 484.1 | | | | |
| 19 | Canada, south of Haida Gwaii | 6.5 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 20 | Turkey, Eskişehir Province | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | 4 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 4 | |
| 29 | Burma, Sagaing Province | 6.2 | 52.7 | VI | | | |

### 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 | New Zealand, Waikato, North Island | 5.3 | 0.0 | VII | Some structural damage was caused. Unknown depth. | | |
| 3 | Tonga | 6.5 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 5 | China, southern Xinjiang Province | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 5 | Japan, off the north coast of Hokkaido | 6.3 | 20.0 | VI | | | |
| 13 | Panama, off the south coast | 6.2 | 25.0 | V | | | |
| 16 | Lebanon, Mount Lebanon Governorate | 5.3 | 15.0 | rowspan="2"| 148 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1956 Chim earthquake. Doublet earthquake with 2 events eleven minutes apart. | 148 | |
| 16 | Lebanon, Beqaa Governorate | 5.5 | 15.0 | VII | | |
| 19 | Australia, West New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 50.3 | V | | | |
| 22 | Ecuador, Morona-Santiago Province | 6.5 | 86.3 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 2 | Indonesia, northwest of Nias | 6.3 | 29.9 | VI | | | |
| 4 | United Kingdom, Singida Region, Tanganyika | 6.5 | 0.0 | | Unknown depth. | | |
| 6 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.6 | 214.2 | | | | |
| 7 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.9 | 346.9 | | | | |
| 10 | Indonesia, southern Sumatra | 6.6 | 129.8 | | | | |
| 18 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.1 | 45.0 | | | | |
| 19 | Spain, Province of Granada | 5.0 | 0.0 | | The 1956 Atarfe-Albolote earthquake killed 7 people and caused major damage. | 7 | |
| 22 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 23 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.2 | 35.0 | IV | | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | Indonesia, off the west coast of southern Sumatra | 6.6 | 66.0 | | | | |
| 13 | Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 19 | Australia, south of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 22 | Tonga | 6.3 | 45.0 | | | | |
| 22 | Australia, New Ireland (island), Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 506.0 | | | | |
| 23 | Fiji | 7.6 | 419.1 | IV | | | |
| 26 | Fiji | 6.5 | 615.0 | | Aftershock. | | |

### 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 |
| 9 | Chile, Coquimbo Region | 6.6 | 23.5 | VII | | | |
| 9 | Afghanistan, Baghlan Province | 7.3 | 25.0 | VII | 100 people were killed. | 100 | |
| 23 | Soviet Union, off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia | 6.5 | 20.0 | VI | | | |
| 24 | Australia, southwest of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.0 | 15.0 | IV | | | |
| 29 | Taiwan, off the east coast of | 6.2 | 15.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 3 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.1 | 215.7 | | | | |
| 4 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 6.0 | 50.0 | V | | | |
| 9 | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | 7.7 | 20.0 | IX | The 1956 Amorgos earthquake which was one of the strongest in Greek history caused 53 deaths and major damage. A tsunami resulted in a further 3 deaths. | 56 | |
| 9 | Greece, Dodecanese Islands | 6.7 | 15.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 9 | Haiti, Nord-Ouest (department) | 6.2 | 55.0 | VI | | | |
| 12 | Burma, Magway Region | 6.2 | 90.0 | | | | |
| 16 | Burma, Sagaing Region | 6.8 | 34.3 | VII | 38 people were killed and some damage was caused in the 1956 Sagaing earthquake. | 38 | |
| 17 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.8 | 450.8 | III | | | |
| 18 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 7.2 | 136.8 | | | | |
| 19 | Philippines, off the west coast of Luzon | 6.1 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 21 | India, Gujarat | 6.0 | 15.0 | IX | The 1956 Anjar earthquake left 156 people dead and major damage. | 156 | |
| 22 | Chile, Tarapaca Region | 6.1 | 96.8 | | | | |
| 30 | Greece, north of Crete | 6.1 | 15.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 4 | Australia, off the east coast of New Britain, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 9 | Tonga | 6.5 | 288.2 | | | | |
| 12 | Japan, south of Honshu | 6.4 | 20.0 | VI | | | |
| 15 | Indonesia, southern Sumatra | 6.4 | 297.3 | | | | |
| 15 | Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini | 6.3 | 170.0 | | | | |
| 19 | China, Shanxi Province | 5.0 | 0.0 | VII | A few homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. | | |
| 23 | Bolivia, La Paz Department (Bolivia) | 6.3 | 35.0 | VII | | | |

### 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 |
| 11 | Fiji | 6.1 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 11 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 0.0 | | Unknown depth. | | |
| 15 | Chile, Tarapaca Region | 6.8 | 94.8 | | | | |
| 16 | Afghanistan, Paktia Province | 6.5 | 10.0 | VIII | | | |
| 17 | United Kingdom, Lake Malawi, Nyasaland | 6.0 | 0.0 | | Unknown depth. | | |
| 19 | Burma, Sagaing Region | 6.1 | 114.9 | | | | |
| 29 | Japan, Chiba Prefecture, Honshu | 7.5 | 66.1 | VII | | | |

### 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 |
| 3 | Chile, Tarapaca Region | 6.5 | 97.3 | | | | |
| 8 | Tonga | 6.0 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 10 | India, Uttar Pradesh | 6.0 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 11 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.3 | 100.4 | VII | | | |
| 12 | Peru, off the coast of central | 6.1 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 12 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.1 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 13 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.1 | 100.0 | | | | |
| 19 | United States, Rat Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 22 | Australia, D'Entrecasteaux Islands, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 23 | Philippines, north of Mindoro | 6.7 | 90.4 | VI | | | |
| 24 | Nicaragua, off the west coast of | 7.1 | 35.0 | VII | 1956 Nicaragua earthquake. | | |
| 25 | Nicaragua, Carazo Department | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 26 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.3 | 10.0 | V | | | |
| 28 | Philippines, eastern Luzon | 6.3 | 20.0 | VI | | | |
| 31 | Iran, Hormozgan Province | 6.4 | 15.0 | VII | 347 people were killed and major damage was reported. | 347 | |

### 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 |
| 2 | Greece, eastern Thessaly | 5.5 | 15.0 | VIII | At least 51 people were killed. | 51+ | |
| 9 | Mexico, Veracruz | 6.4 | 148.9 | | | | |
| 10 | Costa Rica, off the west coast | 6.0 | 70.0 | | | | |
| 10 | Philippines, central Luzon | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 16 | Venezuela, Merida (state) | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 21 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.1 | 41.0 | | | | |
| 25 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 15.0 | V | | | |

### 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 |
| 3 | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.0 | 13.6 | | | | |
| 4 | Mexico, Chiapas | 6.0 | 89.4 | | | | |
| 8 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 15 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.1 | 151.3 | | | | |
| 16 | Colombia, off the west coast of | 6.0 | 32.8 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Chile, Antofagasta Region | 6.8 | 44.9 | VII | | | |
| 21 | Canada, south of Haida Gwaii | 6.5 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 21 | Japan, Izu Islands | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 22 | Japan, Izu Islands | 6.2 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | Japan, Volcano Islands | 6.5 | 90.0 | | | | |
| 26 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 6.0 | 0.0 | | Unknown depth. | | |
| 27 | Fiji, south of | 7.0 | 198.0 | | | | |
| 28 | New Zealand, Gisborne District, North Island | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 31 | China, Hebei Province | 5.0 | 0.0 | VI | Some homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. | | |