# List of earthquakes in 1961

This is a list of earthquakes in 1961. 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. A fairly busy year although the largest event was only a magnitude 7.6. This was a big contrast to 1960 which had three events above magnitude 8. Peru had the largest event. Japan had five magnitude 7.0+ events. Overall there was not a great deal of deaths with the total being 128. Iran had the most with 60 from an event in June.

## Overall
### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 60 | 6.4 | Iran, Fars province | VIII (Severe) | 15.0 | June 11 |
| 2 | 30 | 6.2 | Ethiopia, Amhara Region | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | June 1 |
| 3 | 23 | 6.7 | Colombia, Tolima Department | ( ) | 162.9 | December 20 |
| 4 | 10 | 6.8 | Japan, Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 19 |
* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 7.6 | 0 | Peru, Madre de Dios Region | ( ) | 612.2 | August 19 |
| = 2 | 7.5 | 2 | Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu | X (Extreme) | 35.0 | February 26 |
| = 2 | 7.5 | 0 | Peru, Ucayali Region | ( ) | 619.9 | August 31 |
| 3 | 7.4 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | ( ) | 421.1 | June 18 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 0 | Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini | ( ) | 144.8 | March 28 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | VII (Very strong) | 25.0 | July 23 |
| = 4 | 7.3 | 0 | United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands | ( ) | 129.2 | September 1 |
| = 5 | 7.2 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | V (Moderate) | 30.0 | January 16 |
| = 5 | 7.2 | 0 | Peru, Madre de Dios Region | ( ) | 597.5 | August 31 |
| = 6 | 7.1 | 0 | Japan, eastern Hokkaido | VIII (Severe) | 43.9 | August 11 |
| = 6 | 7.1 | 0 | United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands | ( ) | 100.9 | September 8 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | V (Moderate) | 30.0 | January 16 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | ( ) | 30.0 | March 7 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | China, southern Xinjiang Province | IX (Violent) | 35.0 | April 13 |
| = 7 | 7.0 | 0 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | V (Moderate) | 30.6 | July 18 |
* 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 |
| 2 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 6.8 | 79.3 | | | | |
| 5 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 31.9 | | | | |
| 5 | Australia, East Sepik Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.9 | 142.7 | | | | |
| 5 | France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.6 | 35.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | | |
| 5 | France, southeast of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.6 | 35.0 | | | |
| 10 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russian SFSR | 6.6 | 58.5 | VI | | | |
| 16 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.2 | 30.0 | V | | | |
| 16 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.3 | 30.0 | IV | Aftershock. | | |
| 16 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 7.0 | 30.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 16 | Japan, off the east coast of Honshu | 6.7 | 30.0 | V | Aftershock. | | |
| 22 | United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands | 6.8 | 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 |
| 4 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 6.1 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 6 | Australia, Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.5 | 45.0 | VI | | | |
| 12 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.9 | 38.1 | V | | | |
| 12 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.3 | 34.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 14 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.0 | 45.7 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 15 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.1 | 33.9 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 26 | Japan, Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu | 7.5 | 35.0 | X | 2 people were killed and a further 7 were injured. 170 homes were damaged and another 170 were destroyed. A tsunami was reported. | 2 | 7 |
| 26 | Philippines, Luzon | 6.1 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 27 | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.1 | 30.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 7 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 7.0 | 30.0 | | | | |
| 7 | China, Hubei Province | 4.9 | 0.0 | VII | 25 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. | | |
| 11 | France, Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti | 6.2 | 15.0 | VIII | | | |
| 15 | Australia, west of New Ireland (island), Papua and New Guinea | 6.1 | 30.0 | V | | | |
| 16 | Indonesia, off the north coast of Flores | 6.5 | 45.0 | VIII | 2 people were killed and a further 6 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 2 | 6 |
| 16 | Indonesia, Flores | 6.0 | 35.0 | VI | Aftershock. | | |
| 18 | New Zealand, Auckland Islands | 6.7 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 20 | Tonga | 6.8 | 213.0 | | | | |
| 28 | Indonesia, Gulf of Tomini | 7.3 | 144.8 | | | | |
| 28 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.1 | 45.4 | | | | |

### 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 | China, southern Xinjiang Province | 6.8 | 20.0 | VIII | | | |
| 4 | China, southern Xinjiang Province | 6.3 | 20.0 | VII | Aftershock. | | |
| 8 | Chile, Araucania Region | 6.2 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 8 | United States, Northern Mariana Islands | 6.5 | 104.6 | | | | |
| 9 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 6.9 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 12 | El Salvador, San Vicente Department | 6.0 | 65.0 | V | | | |
| 13 | China, southern Xinjiang Province | 7.0 | 35.0 | IX | 53 homes were destroyed. | | |
| 23 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.7 | 31.6 | | | | |

### 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 | Australia, west of Bougainville Island, Papua and New Guinea | 6.2 | 60.0 | V | | | |
| 7 | Philippines, east of Mindanao | 6.3 | 75.0 | | | | |
| 11 | Chile, Bio-Bio Region | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 16 | Japan, southeast of Kyushu | 6.0 | 25.5 | | | | |
| 22 | Tonga | 6.0 | 27.0 | | | | |
| 23 | Turkey, off the coast of Mugla Province | 6.4 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 23 | Nicaragua, Chinandega Department | 6.2 | 102.4 | V | | | |
| 28 | United Kingdom, south of Fiji | 6.6 | 228.0 | | | | |
| 31 | Mexico, Gulf of California | 6.0 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 31 | Australia, East New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.0 | 50.0 | V | | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | Ethiopia, Amhara Region | 6.2 | 25.0 | IX | 30 people were killed and at least 101 were injured. Some damage was caused. | 30 | 101+ |
| 2 | Ethiopia, Amhara Region | 6.0 | 20.0 | VIII | Aftershock. | | |
| 4 | China, western Xizang Province | 6.2 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 9 | Soviet Union, Caspian Sea, offshore Azerbaijan | 6.0 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 11 | Iran, Fars province | 6.4 | 15.0 | VIII | 60 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 60 | |
| 11 | China, Yunnan Province | 5.6 | 15.0 | VIII | 5,740 homes were destroyed. | | |
| 14 | Guatemala, off the west coast | 6.0 | 100.0 | | | | |
| 16 | Colombia, Cesar Department | 6.2 | 114.4 | | | | |
| 18 | New Zealand, Kermadec Islands | 7.4 | 421.1 | | | | |
| 19 | Philippines, off the west coast of Tablas Island | 6.0 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 19 | Afghanistan, Badakhshan Province | 6.7 | 195.1 | | | | |
| 27 | China, Yunnan Province | 6.1 | 15.0 | VIII | 11,400 homes were destroyed. | | |

### 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 |
| 6 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.6 | 34.9 | | | | |
| 7 | Australia, West New Britain Province, Papua and New Guinea | 6.5 | 48.4 | VI | | | |
| 8 | France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.1 | 35.0 | rowspan="2"| Doublet earthquake. | | |
| 8 | France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia | 6.2 | 35.0 | | | |
| 18 | Japan, Ryukyu Islands | 7.0 | 30.6 | V | | | |
| 23 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.1 | 25.0 | | Foreshock. | | |
| 23 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 25.0 | | Foreshock. | | |
| 23 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.3 | 25.0 | VII | A tsunami was caused with minor damage being reported. | | |
| 26 | New Zealand, off the north coast | 6.5 | 145.0 | | | | |
| 28 | Ecuador, Pastaza Province | 6.6 | 142.1 | V | | | |

### 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 | United Kingdom, eastern Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands | 6.4 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 11 | Japan, eastern Hokkaido | 7.1 | 43.9 | VIII | | | |
| 11 | Indonesia, eastern Sulawesi | 6.0 | 20.0 | VII | | | |
| 14 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.0 | 50.0 | | | | |
| 17 | Soviet Union, Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.5 | 151.0 | | | | |
| 19 | Peru, Madre de Dios Region | 7.6 | 612.2 | | | | |
| 19 | Japan, Ishikawa Prefecture, Honshu | 6.8 | 15.0 | VII | 10 people were killed and some damage was caused. | 10 | |
| 31 | Peru, Madre de Dios Region | 7.2 | 597.5 | | Foreshock. | | |
| 31 | Peru, Ucayali Region | 7.5 | 619.9 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands | 7.3 | 129.2 | | | | |
| 5 | Soviet Union, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan | 6.0 | 130.0 | | | | |
| 5 | United States, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska | 6.0 | 44.0 | VI | | | |
| 8 | United Kingdom, South Sandwich Islands | 7.1 | 100.9 | | | | |
| 11 | Venezuela, off the coast of | 6.1 | 120.6 | | | | |
| 17 | Taiwan, off the east coast | 6.1 | 34.1 | | | | |
| 19 | Bolivia, Chuquisaca Department | 6.5 | 574.8 | | | | |
| 20 | Australia, eastern Bismarck Sea, Papua and New Guinea | 6.0 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 29 | Indonesia, Minahasa Peninsula | 6.0 | 75.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 1 | China, Gansu Province | 5.7 | 0.0 | VII | 10 homes were destroyed. Unknown depth. | | |
| 8 | Indonesia, west of Halmahera | 6.8 | 120.0 | | | | |
| 10 | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 6.3 | 265.0 | | | | |
| 18 | Chile, Concepcion, Chile | 6.6 | 20.0 | VII | At least 1 person was killed and some damage was caused. | 1+ | |
| 19 | Argentina, Neuquen Province | 6.2 | 149.0 | | | | |
| 23 | Indonesia, Talaud Islands | 6.2 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Australia, Bismarck Sea, Papua and New Guinea | 6.5 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Indonesia, Batu Islands | 6.2 | 28.9 | 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 |
| 15 | Japan, off the east coast of Hokkaido | 6.5 | 43.0 | VII | | | |
| 16 | Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province | 6.0 | 155.0 | | | | |
| 19 | Indonesia, Minahasa Peninsula | 6.6 | 185.0 | | | | |
| 27 | Japan, off the southeast coast of Kyushu | 6.2 | 65.0 | VI | | | |
| 27 | Indonesia, Bacan Islands | 6.2 | 25.0 | 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 |
| 4 | China, southern Qinghai Province | 6.1 | 15.8 | VII | | | |
| 9 | Chile, off the coast of Los Lagos Region | 6.7 | 25.0 | | | | |
| 14 | Indonesia, Papua (province) | 6.0 | 15.0 | VI | | | |
| 20 | Colombia, Tolima Department | 6.7 | 162.9 | | 23 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 23 | |
| 24 | Japan, Hokkaido | 6.0 | 118.0 | | | | |
| 24 | Chile, off the coast of Bio-Bio Region | 6.1 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 27 | New Zealand, Wellington Region, North Island | 6.4 | 20.0 | VII | | | |
| 30 | United States, Rat Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 15.0 | | | | |