# List of earthquakes in 1978

This is a list of earthquakes in 1978. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. Events in remote areas will not be listed but included in statistics and maps. Countries are entered on the lists in order of their status in this particular year. 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. Another fairly quiet year as far as earthquakes above magnitude 7.0. The largest of the 12 events in this threshold were magnitude 7.7 and both Japan and Mexico experienced these. The Kuril Islands in Russia had a robust series of large earthquakes in March. Iran dominated the death toll for the year. One event in September left 20,000 dead. Japan had two destructive events including the joint largest event of the year. October had no events above magnitude 6 which is an unusual quiescence.

## By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 20,000 | 7.4 | Iran, Yazd Province | IX (Violent) | 33.0 | September 16 |
| 2 | 76 | 6.2 | Iran, Khuzestan Province | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | December 14 |
| 3 | 50 | 6.4 | Greece, East Macedonia and Thrace | IX (Violent) | 3.0 | June 20 |
| 4 | 29 | 6.6 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | IX (Violent) | 14.0 | January 14 |
| 5 | 28 | 7.7 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | VIII (Severe) | 44.0 | June 12 |
| 6 | 17 | 4.9 | Guatemala, Chimaltenango Department | VI (Strong) | 10.0 | July 29 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.

## By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| = 1 | 7.7 | 28 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | VIII (Severe) | 44.0 | June 12 |
| = 1 | 7.7 | 9 | Mexico, Oaxaca | IX (Violent) | 18.0 | November 29 |
| 2 | 7.6 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | March 24 |
| 3 | 7.5 | 0 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | March 23 |
| = 4 | 7.4 | 0 | Taiwan, off the southeast coast | VI (Strong) | 17.0 | July 23 |
| = 4 | 7.4 | 20,000 | Iran, Yazd Province | IX (Violent) | 33.0 | September 16 |
| 5 | 7.2 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | ( ) | 33.0 | February 9 |
| = 6 | 7.1 | 0 | Soviet Union, Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyzstan | VIII (Severe) | 33.0 | March 24 |
| = 6 | 7.1 | 0 | Solomon Islands | VII (Very strong) | 33.0 | November 5 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Tonga | ( ) | 33.0 | June 17 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Costa Rica, Guanacaste Province | VIII (Severe) | 56.0 | August 23 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 2 | Taiwan, off the east coast | VI (Strong) | 33.0 | December 23 |
Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.

## By month
### 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 |
| 6 | Philippines, north of Luzon | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 13 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands | 6.0 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 14 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 6.7 | 14.0 | IX | Main article: 1978 Izu Ōshima earthquake | 29 | 129 |
| 14 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.3 | 22.0 | | | | |
| 15 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.2 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 17 | Argentina, San Juan | 6.0 | 19.5 | VI | | | |
| 24 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands | 6.0 | 39.2 | | | | |
| 24 | Papua New Guinea, West New Britain Province | 6.1 | 79.5 | V | | | |
| 25 | Papua New Guinea, East New Britain Province | 6.6 | 44.0 | VI | | | |
| 28 | Fiji, offshore | 6.4 | 106.3 | | | | |
| 29 | Papua New Guinea, New Ireland | 6.0 | 15.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 9 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 7.2 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 11 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 6.6 | 33.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 15 | Turkey, Erzincan Province | 4.8 | 33.0 | IV | 20 people were injured and 525 homes were destroyed. | | 20 |
| 20 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.1 | 60.0 | VIII | 30 people were hurt and some damage was caused. | | 30 |

### 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 | Tonga | 6.2 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 4 | Tonga | 6.3 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 4 | Papua New Guinea, off the east coast of New Ireland (island) | 6.2 | 78.0 | V | | | |
| 7 | Japan, Izu Islands | 6.9 | 439.0 | | A magnitude 6.0 foreshock occurred seconds earlier. | | |
| 11 | Italy, Calabria | 5.6 | 33.0 | V | 2 people died and at least 51 were injured. Some damage was reported. | 2 | 51 |
| 16 | Afghanistan, Kandahar Province | 5.9 | 33.0 | VII | 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1 | |
| 19 | Mexico, Guerrero | 6.4 | 36.0 | VII | 1 person died and 25 people were injured. Some damage was caused. | 1 | 25 |
| 22 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.7 | 33.0 | IV | Beginning of a series of large events. | | |
| 22 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.6 | 33.0 | V | | | |
| 23 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.8 | 46.0 | V | | | |
| 23 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.5 | 33.0 | VIII | A small tsunami was observed. | | |
| 23 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.8 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 24 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 7.6 | 33.0 | VI | A small tsunami was observed. | | |
| 24 | Soviet Union, Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyzstan | 7.1 | 33.0 | VIII | Major damage was reported. | | |

### 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 |
| 4 | China, western Xizang Province | 6.0 | 27.0 | VII | | | |
| 4 | Panama, north of | 6.1 | 35.0 | IV | | | |
| 10 | Indonesia, south of Lombok | 6.7 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 12 | United States, south of Kodiak Island, Alaska | 6.6 | 14.0 | V | | | |
| 13 | Yugoslavia, Rasina District, Serbia | 5.7 | 33.0 | VI | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 15 | Italy, off the north coast of Sicily | 5.7 | 14.0 | VI | 5 people were killed. 400 homes were destroyed. | 5 | |
| 29 | Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal | 6.2 | 46.0 | V | | | |

### 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 |
| 13 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.7 | 160.0 | V | | | |
| 23 | Japan, off the south coast of Kyushu | 6.3 | 161.0 | V | | | |
| 23 | Greece, East Macedonia and Thrace | 5.7 | 10.0 | VII | 2 people were injured and some damage was caused. | | 2 |
| 24 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.7 | 25.0 | IV | | | |
| 26 | Japan, Volcano Islands | 6.8 | 33.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 3 | Japan, Shimane Prefecture, Honshu | 4.9 | 19.0 | IV | 1 person was injured and some damage was caused. | | 1 |
| 4 | Soviet Union, Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan | 6.0 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 11 | Tonga | 6.2 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 11 | Canada, west of Vancouver Island | 6.1 | 10.0 | | | | |
| 12 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.7 | 44.0 | VIII | Largest event of 1978. The 1978 Miyagi earthquake caused 28 deaths and nearly 10,000 injuries. Property damage was extensive with costs reaching $865 million (1978 rate). A tsunami was generated. | 28 | 10,000 |
| 14 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 40.0 | IV | Aftershock. | | |
| 14 | Philippines, off the west coast of Mindanao | 6.9 | 24.0 | VII | | | |
| 16 | Philippines, eastern Mindanao | 6.0 | 139.0 | IV | | | |
| 17 | Tonga | 7.0 | 33.0 | | | | |
| 20 | Greece, East Macedonia and Thrace | 6.4 | 3.0 | IX | The 1978 Thessaloniki earthquake resulted in 50 deaths and at least 101 injuries. Major damage was caused with costs being $250 million (1978 rate). | 50 | 101 |
| 24 | Indonesia, off the coast of southern Sumatra | 6.4 | 33.0 | V | | | |

### 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 |
| 22 | Papua New Guinea, New Ireland (island) | 6.0 | 43.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | Taiwan, off the southeast coast | 7.4 | 17.0 | VI | | | |
| 29 | Guatemala, Chimaltenango Department | 4.9 | 10.0 | VI | 17 people were killed and a further 101 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 17 | 101 |

### 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 |
| 3 | Chile, Atacama Region | 6.3 | 58.0 | IX | 13 people were hurt and major damage was caused. | | 13 |
| 3 | Indonesia, off the north coast of West Papua (province) | 6.1 | 33.0 | V | | | |
| 13 | United States, Santa Barbara Channel, California | 5.1 | 18.0 | VII | 65 people were injured and property damage worth $15 million (1978 rate) was caused by the 1978 Santa Barbara earthquake. | | 65 |
| 23 | Costa Rica, Guanacaste Province | 7.0 | 56.0 | VIII | | | |

### 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 | Solomon Islands | 6.2 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 2 | Taiwan, off the northeast coast | 6.1 | 109.0 | V | | | |
| 3 | West Germany, Baden-Wurttemberg | 5.3 | 8.0 | VIII | Many (at least 101) people were injured. Major damage was reported with costs reaching $150 million (1978 rate). | | 101 |
| 6 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 198.0 | IV | | | |
| 15 | Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan | 6.0 | 0.0 | | Nuclear test. | | |
| 16 | Iran, Yazd Province | 7.4 | 33.0 | IX | Deadliest event of 1978. Around 20,000 people were killed in the 1978 Tabas earthquake. Major property damage was caused with costs reaching $50 million (1978 rate). | 20,000 | |
| 23 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.3 | 201.0 | IV | | | |

### 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 |

### 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 | Soviet Union, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Tajikistan | 6.8 | 40.0 | IX | Major damage was caused. | | |
| 4 | Iran, Gilan Province | 6.1 | 34.0 | VI | | | |
| 4 | Solomon Islands | 6.9 | 33.0 | VI | Beginning of a series of events. | | |
| 4 | Solomon Islands | 6.0 | 33.0 | V | | | |
| 5 | Solomon Islands | 7.1 | 33.0 | VII | | | |
| 7 | Solomon Islands | 6.1 | 33.0 | VI | | | |
| 29 | Soviet Union, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan | 6.0 | 0.0 | | Nuclear test. | | |
| 29 | Mexico, Oaxaca | 7.7 | 18.0 | IX | Largest event in 1978. 9 people were killed in the 1978 Oaxaca earthquake. At least 101 people were injured. Some damage was caused. | 9 | 101 |

### 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 | Solomon Islands | 6.0 | 93.0 | IV | | | |
| 6 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.7 | 91.0 | VIII | Some damage was caused. | | |
| 12 | Philippines, Mindanao | 6.9 | 33.0 | IX | | | |
| 14 | Iran, Khuzestan Province | 6.2 | 33.0 | VII | 76 people were killed and at least 51 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 76 | 51 |
| 18 | Soviet Union, Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan | 6.0 | 0.0 | | Nuclear test. | | |
| 21 | Solomon Islands | 6.3 | 30.0 | V | | | |
| 23 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 7.0 | 33.0 | VI | 2 people were killed and 3 were injured. | 2 | 3 |