# List of earthquakes in 1946

This is a list of earthquakes in 1946. 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. Several great shocks affected the planet in 1946. The largest was one of the most significant in human terms. The quake itself was a magnitude 8.6 striking on April 1 in Alaska resulting in a tsunami mainly affecting Hawaii. The consequence of this apart from many deaths was the foundation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. This organisation has helped to substantially reduce the death toll of tsunamis in the Pacific, although there have been a few exceptions, including the 2011 Japan event. Japan itself was heavily affected in 1946 by a large quake hitting in December, causing 1,362 deaths. The Dominican Republic was another nation that suffered great destruction in August. Turkey, Peru, and Turkmenistan all saw earthquakes causing many deaths. There were 21 events measuring above 7.0 and three exceeding a magnitude of 8.0.

## Overall
### By death toll

| Rank | Death toll | Magnitude | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 1,790 | 7.5 | Dominican Republic, Samaná Bay | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 4 |
| 2 | 1,400 | 6.8 | Peru, Ancash Region | XI (Extreme) | 15.0 | November 10 |
| 3 | 1,362 | 8.3 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | December 20 |
| 4 | 840 | 6.0 | Turkey, Erzurum Province | VIII (Severe) | 35.0 | May 31 |
| 5 | 400 | 6.9 | Soviet Union, Balkan Region, Turkmenistan | VII (Very strong) | 37.9 | November 4 |
| 6 | 264 | 6.0 | France, Bordj Bou Arréridj Province, Algeria | IX (Violent) | 35.0 | February 12 |
| 7 | 167 | 8.6 | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 1 |
| 8 | 75 | 7.0 | Dominican Republic, off the northern coast | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 8 |
| 9 | 58 | 6.6 | Taiwan, north of Taiwan | IX (Violent) | 25.0 | December 4 |
| 10 | 12 | 5.6 | Turkey, Konya Province | VIII (Severe) | 60.0 | February 21 |
* Note: At least 10 casualties

### By magnitude

| Rank | Magnitude | Death toll | Location | MMI | Depth (km) | Date |
| 1 | 8.6 | 167 | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | April 1 |
| 2 | 8.3 | 1,362 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | December 20 |
| 3 | 8.0 | 0 | Burma, Sagaing Region | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | September 12 |
| = 4 | 7.8 | 0 | Burma, Sagaing Region | ( ) | 15.0 | September 12 |
| = 4 | 7.8 | 0 | Australia, southeast of New Ireland (island), New Guinea | VI (Strong) | 50.0 | September 29 |
| = 5 | 7.5 | 1,790 | Dominican Republic, Samaná Bay | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 4 |
| = 5 | 7.5 | 0 | Soviet Union, Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan | X (Extreme) | 25.0 | November 2 |
| = 6 | 7.3 | 0 | Indonesia, Mentawai Islands | VII (Very strong) | 35.0 | May 8 |
| = 6 | 7.3 | 0 | Canada, Vancouver Island | VII (Very strong) | 30.0 | June 23 |
| = 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Australia, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea | ( ) | 95.0 | January 17 |
| = 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | ( ) | 573.6 | August 28 |
| = 7 | 7.2 | 0 | Australia, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea | ( ) | 110.0 | September 23 |
| = 8 | 7.1 | 0 | Mexico, Oaxaca | ( ) | 109.9 | June 7 |
| = 8 | 7.1 | 0 | Mexico, Veracruz | ( ) | 117.8 | July 11 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | ( ) | 35.0 | January 20 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | ( ) | 175.4 | July 9 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 75 | Dominican Republic, off the northern coast | VII (Very strong) | 15.0 | August 8 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Fiji, south of | ( ) | 84.1 | August 21 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Fiji, south of | ( ) | 588.4 | September 26 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province | ( ) | 50.0 | October 4 |
| = 9 | 7.0 | 0 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | VI (Strong) | 25.0 | November 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 |
| 5 | Guatemala, Quiche Department | 6.0 | 210.0 | | | | |
| 5 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.9 | 35.0 | VI | | | |
| 11 | Republic of China (1912-1949), Heilongjiang Province | 6.8 | 581.2 | II | | | |
| 12 | United States, Gulf of Alaska | 6.6 | 20.0 | IV | | | |
| 17 | Australia, Morobe Province, New Guinea | 7.2 | 95.0 | | | | |
| 20 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.0 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 25 | Switzerland, Canton of Bern | 6.0 | 35.0 | VIII | The 1946 Valais earthquake killed three people in Switzerland, and one in France. | 4 | |

### 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 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 6.8 | 160.0 | | | | |
| 10 | Iran, South Khorasan Province | 0.0 | 0.0 | VIII | 3 people were killed and some damage was caused. Magnitude and depth unknown. | 3 | |
| 12 | France, Bordj Bou Arreridj Province, Algeria | 6.0 | 35.0 | IX | 264 deaths were reported as well as major damage. | 264 | |
| 21 | Turkey, Konya Province | 5.6 | 60.0 | VIII | 12 people were killed. | 12 | |
| 22 | Mexico, Chiapas | 6.0 | 170.0 | | | | |
| 27 | Argentina, Jujuy Province | 6.0 | 270.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 15 | United States, central California | 6.3 | 6.0 | VIII | | | |
| 25 | Cuba, southeast of | 6.0 | 35.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Indonesia, off the west coast of southern Sumatra | 6.8 | 45.0 | 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 | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | 8.6 | 15.0 | VII | This was one of the largest events of all time. The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake caused a large tsunami that resulted in major destruction on Hawaii. 167 people were killed and property damage was $26 million (1946 rate). The disaster prompted the formation of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. | 167 | |
| 5 | Greece, southwest of Crete | 6.0 | 100.0 | | | | |

### 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 | Australia, New Ireland (island), New Guinea | 6.9 | 35.0 | VII | | | |
| 8 | Indonesia, Mentawai Islands | 7.3 | 35.0 | VII | | | |
| 21 | France, east of Martinique | 6.3 | 30.0 | V | | | |
| 31 | Turkey, Erzurum Province | 6.0 | 35.0 | VIII | 840 people were killed. | 840 | |

### 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 |
| 2 | Taiwan, east of | 6.3 | 15.0 | V | | | |
| 7 | Mexico, Oaxaca | 7.1 | 109.9 | | | | |
| 15 | Indonesia, Ceram Sea | 6.4 | 15.0 | V | | | |
| 23 | Canada, Vancouver Island | 7.3 | 30.0 | VII | 1946 Vancouver Island earthquake. Some property damage was caused. | | |
| 24 | Honduras, Copan Department | 6.0 | 260.0 | | | | |
| 24 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 160.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Guatemala, Sacatepequez Department | 6.5 | 90.0 | | | | |
| 26 | New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand | 6.5 | 15.0 | VII | | | |
| 28 | New Zealand, Canterbury, New Zealand | 6.0 | 35.0 | | Aftershock. | | |

### 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 |
| 9 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 7.0 | 175.4 | | | | |
| 11 | Mexico, Veracruz | 7.1 | 117.8 | | | | |
| 12 | United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) | 6.8 | 100.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Chile, off coast of Tarapaca Region | 6.3 | 63.5 | 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 |
| 2 | Chile, Atacama Region | 6.9 | 39.2 | VII | 2 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 2 | |
| 4 | Dominican Republic, Samana Bay | 7.5 | 15.0 | VII | The 1946 Dominican Republic earthquake was one of the worst disasters to hit the country. The earthquake caused few deaths however a major tsunami left 1,790 people dead. Many homes were destroyed. | 1,790 | |
| 8 | Dominican Republic, north coast | 7.0 | 15.0 | VII | This was a large aftershock of the previous event. 75 further deaths were caused by a tsunami. | 75 | |
| 11 | United Kingdom, Solomon Islands | 6.5 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 21 | Fiji, south of | 7.0 | 84.1 | | | | |
| 28 | Argentina, Santiago del Estero Province | 7.2 | 573.6 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 12 | Burma, Sagaing Region | 8.0 | 15.0 | VII | 1946 Sagaing Earthquake | | |
| 12 | Burma, Sagaing Region | 7.8 | 15.0 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 23 | Australia, Morobe Province, New Guinea | 7.2 | 110.0 | | | | |
| 26 | Fiji, south of | 7.0 | 588.4 | | | | |
| 29 | Australia, southeast of New Ireland (island), New Guinea | 7.8 | 50.0 | VI | | | |
| 30 | Peru, Ica Region | 6.1 | 53.0 | VII | Many homes were damaged. | | |

### 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 |
| 2 | Soviet Union, southern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.5 | 38.2 | VI | | | |
| 2 | Soviet Union, southern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.3 | 34.3 | | Aftershock. | | |
| 4 | Dominican Republic, La Altagracia Province | 7.0 | 50.0 | | | | |
| 8 | Fiji, south of | 6.8 | 620.0 | | | | |
| 13 | Bolivia, Potosi Department | 6.0 | 200.0 | | | | |
| 22 | New Hebrides, Vanuatu | 6.8 | 200.7 | | | | |
| 25 | Soviet Union, eastern Kamchatka Krai, Russia | 6.5 | 140.0 | | | | |
| 30 | United States, south of Unimak Island, Alaska | 6.5 | 30.0 | | | | |

### 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 | United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska | 7.0 | 25.0 | VI | | | |
| 2 | Soviet Union, Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan | 7.5 | 25.0 | X | The 1946 Chatkal earthquake caused some damages to Central Asia. | | |
| 4 | Soviet Union, Balkan Region, Turkmenistan | 6.9 | 37.9 | VII | 400 people were killed and major damage was caused. | 400 | |
| 6 | India, Leh | 6.4 | 25.0 | VII | | | |
| 10 | Argentina, San Juan Province, Argentina | 6.2 | 120.0 | | | | |
| 10 | Peru, Ancash Region | 6.8 | 15.0 | XI | 1,400 people were killed and major damage was caused by the 1946 Ancash earthquake. | 1,400 | |
| 12 | Tonga | 6.9 | 15.0 | | | | |
| 17 | Indonesia, Banda Sea | 6.5 | 100.0 | | | | |
| 28 | Tonga | 6.9 | 265.0 | | | | |

### 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 |
| 4 | Taiwan, north of | 6.6 | 25.0 | IX | The 1946 Hsinhua earthquake left 58 people dead and 384 injured. 700 homes were destroyed. | 58 | 384 |
| 17 | Fiji | 6.5 | 580.0 | | | | |
| 19 | Taiwan, east of | 6.8 | 98.0 | | | | |
| 20 | Japan, off the south coast of Honshu | 8.3 | 15.0 | VII | The 1946 Nankai earthquake was one of the largest quakes to hit Japan. The south coast is vulnerable to Nankai megathrust earthquakes. 1,362 people were killed and 2,600 were injured. 36,000 homes were destroyed. A tsunami washed the shoreline contributing to the devastation with wave heights around 20 feet. | 1,362 | 2,600 |
| 21 | Soviet Union, east of Kuril Islands, Russia | 6.9 | 20.0 | | | | |
| 25 | United States, Rat Islands, Alaska | 6.5 | 90.0 | | | | |