# List of earthquakes in 1962

This is a list of earthquakes in 1962. 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. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Mercalli intensity scale and are sourced from United States Geological Survey (USGS) ShakeMap data. The year was characterized by fairly moderate activity. The largest of 10 magnitude 7.0 + earthquakes measured 7.5 and struck Fiji. Iran had the deadliest event with over 12,000 deaths in September. Apart from this there was few other deaths from earthquakes. Colombia had the most with 47 in July.

## Overall
### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 12,225 | 7.0 | Iran, Qazvin Province | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | September 1 |
| 2 | 47 | 6.5 | Colombia, Choco Department | VI (Strong) | 64.0 | July 30 |
| 3 | 16 | 6.2 | Italy, Campania | VI (Strong) | 20.0 | August 21 |
| 4 | 15 | 6.1 | Albania, Fier County | VII (Very strong) | 26.4 | March 18 |
* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 7.5 | 0 | United Kingdom, Fiji | I (Not felt) | 390.0 | May 21 |
| = 2 | 7.3 | 0 | northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | I (Not felt) | 10.0 | March 17 |
| = 2 | 7.3 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | VI (Strong) | 28.0 | April 12 |
| = 3 | 7.2 | 0 | Panama, south of | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | July 26 |
| = 3 | 7.2 | 0 | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | I (Not felt) | 588.7 | December 9 |
| = 4 | 7.1 | 0 | Chile, Araucania Region | IX (Violent) | 30.0 | February 14 |
| = 4 | 7.1 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido | VII (Very strong) | 60.0 | April 23 |
| = 4 | 7.1 | 0 | Indonesia, Barat Daya Islands | VII (Very strong) | 30.2 | May 15 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 4 | Mexico, Guerrero | VIII (Severe) | 25.0 | May 11 |
| = 5 | 7.0 | 12,225 | Iran, Qazvin Province | IX (Violent) | 15.0 | September 1 |
* 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 |
| 4 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.2 | 50.0 | VI | | | |
| 5 | Indonesia, off the west coast of Sumatra | 6.0 | 30.1 | | | | |
| 7 | Yugoslavia, Dalmatia, Croatia | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | In the first of the 1962 Makarska earthquakes, 4 people were killed and some damage was caused. A few days later another event struck in an example of a doublet earthquake. | 4 | |
| 8 | Dominican Republic, Peravia Province | 6.5 | 35.6 | VII | | | |
| 9 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.0 | 49.0 | V | | | |
| 11 | Yugoslavia, Dalmatia, Croatia | 6.2 | 15.0 | IX | In the second of the 1962 Makarska earthquakes, 2 people died and 2,290 homes collapsed. | 1 | |
| 25 | United Kingdom, Makira, Solomon Islands | 6.0 | 45.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Greece, southwest of Crete | 6.0 | 25.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 3 | Indonesia, off the north coast of Papua (province) | 6.3 | 23.0 | VI | | | |
| 14 | Chile, Araucania Region | 7.1 | 30.0 | IX | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 20 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Hokkaido | 6.1 | 50.7 | V | | | |
| 20 | Burma, Kachin State | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 27 | Chile, Bio-Bio Region | 6.2 | 25.0 | 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 |
| 7 | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 6.9 | 635.0 | | | | |
| 11 | Philippines, east of Mindanao | 6.3 | 44.6 | V | | | |
| 12 | Panama, south of | 6.5 | 25.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 17 | northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 7.3 | 10.0 | | | | |
| 18 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Albania, Fier County | 6.1 | 26.4 | VII | 15 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 15 | |
| 18 | China, Guangdong Province | 6.0 | 15.0 | VIII | 1 person was killed and another 2 were injured. 1,200 homes were destroyed. | 1 | 2 |
| 19 | Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini | 6.0 | 145.3 | | | | |
| 22 | Australia, off the north coast of Papua and New Guinea | 6.4 | 35.0 | VIII | | | |
| 24 | Australia, Madang Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.0 | 117.8 | | | | |
| 26 | Chile, off the coast of Los Lagos Region | 6.2 | 30.9 | VI | | | |

### 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 | Iran, South Khorasan Province | 5.8 | 15.0 | VII | 5 people were killed and some damage was reported. | 5 | |
| 10 | Greece, Ionian Sea | 6.2 | 15.0 | V | | | |
| 12 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.3 | 28.0 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Peru, off the coast of northern | 6.4 | 49.4 | V | 9 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 9 | |
| 19 | Soviet Union, Sakha Republic, Russia | 6.0 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 20 | Haiti, north of | 6.6 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | China, Yunnan Province | 6.0 | 0.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. Unknown depth. | | |
| 23 | Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido | 7.1 | 60.0 | VII | | | |
| 30 | Japan, Miyagi Prefecture, Honshu | 6.1 | 15.0 | VII | 1 person was killed and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 1 | 101+ |

### 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 |
| 7 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.5 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 10 | New Zealand, West Coast, New Zealand | 6.0 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 11 | Mexico, Guerrero | 7.0 | 25.0 | VIII | 4 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Some homes were destroyed. | 4 | 101+ |
| 15 | Indonesia, Barat Daya Islands | 7.1 | 30.2 | VII | | | |
| 19 | Mexico, Guerrero | 6.8 | 25.0 | VII | Large aftershock of previous event from May 11. 3 people were killed and 16 were injured in this event. Some homes collapsed. | 3 | 16 |
| 21 | China, northern Qinghai Province | 6.6 | 17.0 | VIII | A few homes were damaged or destroyed. | | |
| 21 | United Kingdom, Fiji | 7.5 | 390.0 | | | | |
| 22 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 6.6 | 114.4 | | | | |
| 22 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 31 | Japan, Volcano Islands | 6.6 | 269.1 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 11 | Yugoslavia, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 5.9 | 15.0 | VII | Major property damage was caused with costs being $40 million (1962 rate). | | |
| 23 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 6.5 | 23.0 | | | | |
| 24 | China, Yunnan Province | 6.0 | 15.0 | VII | 2,550 homes were destroyed. | | |
| 25 | Taiwan, east of | 6.4 | 35.0 | V | | | |
| 28 | United States, Hawaii (island), Hawaii | 6.2 | 8.9 | VI | | | |

### 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 |
| 2 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 6.2 | 104.3 | | | | |
| 6 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.7 | 216.2 | IV | | | |
| 17 | Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido | 6.0 | 49.9 | V | | | |
| 25 | United Kingdom, south of Cayman Islands | 6.1 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Panama, south of | 7.2 | 25.0 | VII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 30 | Australia, off the north coast of Papua and New Guinea | 6.6 | 25.0 | VII | | | |
| 30 | Colombia, Choco Department | 6.5 | 64.0 | VI | 47 people were killed and 300 were injured. Major damage was caused. | 47 | 300 |

### 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 |
| 1 | Australia, off the north coast of Papua and New Guinea | 6.3 | 25.0 | VII | | | |
| 3 | Chile, Antofagasta Region | 6.8 | 124.8 | VII | | | |
| 11 | Taiwan, northeast of | 6.5 | 128.8 | V | | | |
| 17 | Philippines, southwest of Panay | 6.0 | 20.0 | V | | | |
| 19 | China, northern Xinjiang Province | 6.3 | 33.2 | VIII | Some homes were destroyed. | | |
| 21 | Italy, Campania | 6.2 | 20.0 | VI | The 1962 Irpinia earthquake killed at least 16 people and caused damage. | 16 | |
| 26 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 28 | Greece, Peloponnese (region) | 6.1 | 110.2 | | 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1 | |
| 30 | United States, northern Utah | 5.9 | 10.0 | VII | Some damage was caused in the 1962 Cache Valley earthquake. Damage costs were $1 million (1962 rate). | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | Iran, Qazvin Province | 7.0 | 15.0 | IX | The 1962 Buin Zahra earthquake left 12,225 people dead and another 2,776 injured. Major property damage was caused with costs of $30 million (1962 rate). 21,310 homes were destroyed. | 12,225 | 2,776 |
| 10 | United Kingdom, Fiji | 6.5 | 630.6 | | | | |
| 12 | Afghanistan, Baghlan Province | 6.3 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 18 | Panama, south of | 6.8 | 30.0 | V | | | |
| 22 | Burma, Kachin State | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 24 | Japan, southeast of Hokkaido | 6.0 | 30.0 | IV | | | |
| 29 | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | 6.4 | 573.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 6 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.3 | 60.0 | | | | |
| 6 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 6 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 35.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 8 | Taiwan, off the east coast of | 6.5 | 35.0 | VI | | | |

### 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 |
| 6 | Iran, Hormozgan Province | 5.7 | 15.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 16 | India, Andaman Islands | 6.2 | 27.0 | VII | | | |
| 29 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.2 | 35.0 | VI | | | |

### 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 |
| 7 | Japan, west of the Izu Islands | 6.6 | 431.2 | | | | |
| 8 | Tonga | 6.2 | 39.4 | | | | |
| 9 | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | 7.2 | 588.7 | | | | |
| 17 | China, Ningxia Province | 5.7 | 20.0 | VII | A few homes collapsed. | | |
| 21 | Indonesia, south of Java | 6.2 | 55.0 | | | | |
| 21 | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.4 | 20.6 | | Series. | | |
| 21 | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.5 | 25.0 | | Series. | | |
| 22 | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.5 | 33.3 | | Series. | | |
| 26 | Soviet Union, Commander Islands, Russia | 6.7 | 22.8 | | | | |
| 29 | Chile, Tarapaca Region | 6.2 | 50.0 | VI | | | |