This is a list of earthquakes in 1901. Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on the list. Exceptions to this are earthquakes which 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. The countries and their flags are noted as they would have appeared in this year for example the Netherlands being in control of present-day Indonesia. In all another year of below average activity. There were 15 magnitude 7.0+ events. Japan saw a great deal of activity this year. The majority of the 125 deaths came in China from an event in February.

Overall

By death toll

Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date
1 101 6.5  Qing Dynasty, Yunnan Province, China VIII (Severe) 0.0 February 15
2 18 7.5  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu ( ) 35.0 August 9
  • Note: At least 10 casualties

By magnitude

Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date
1 7.9 1  France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia ( ) 0.0 August 9
2 7.5 18  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu ( ) 35.0 August 9
3 7.3 0  Russian Empire, Kuril Islands ( ) 35.0 April 5
= 4 7.2 0  Ecuador, offshore ( ) 0.0 January 7
= 4 7.2 0  United Kingdom Solomon Islands ( ) 0.0 May 25
= 4 7.2 0  Japan, Ryukyu Islands ( ) 35.0 June 24
= 4 7.2 0  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu ( ) 35.0 August 9
= 5 7.1 0  Canada, British Columbia ( ) 0.0 January 18
= 5 7.1 0  Honduras,  Nicaragua, border area ( ) 0.0 October 8
= 5 7.1 0  Mexico, Gulf of California ( ) 0.0 December 9
= 5 7.1 0  United States, Andreanof Islands, Alaska ( ) 0.0 December 31
= 6 7.0 0  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu ( ) 35.0 June 15
= 6 7.0 0  Netherlands, Molucca Sea, Dutch East Indies ( ) 0.0 November 25
= 6 7.0 0  United States Philippines, Luzon VII (Very strong) 0.0 December 14
= 6 7.0 0  United States, south of Alaska ( ) 0.0 December 30
  • Note: At least 7.0 magnitude

Notable events

January

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
7[1]  Ecuador, offshore 7.2 0.0 Depth unknown.
13[2]  Japan, off the south coast of Hokkaido 6.8 35.0
18[3]  Canada, British Columbia 7.1 0.0 Depth unknown.

February

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
15[4][5]  Qing Dynasty, Yunnan Province, China 6.5 0.0 VIII Depth unknown. At least 101 people were killed and major damage was caused. Many homes were destroyed. 101

March

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
3[6][7]  United States, central California 6.4 0.0 VIII Depth unknown. The Parkfield earthquake caused some damage.
5[8]  Mexico, Gulf of California 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown.
16[9]  German Empire, offshore Lindi Region, German East Africa 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown.
31[10]  Bulgaria, Dobrich Province 6.4 0.0 VIII Depth unknown. 4 people died and 50 were injured in the 1901 Black Sea earthquake. 1,200 homes were damaged or destroyed. 4 50

April

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
5[11]  Netherlands, Halmahera, Dutch East Indies 6.8 0.0 Depth unknown.
5[12]  Russian Empire, Kuril Islands 7.3 35.0
21[13]  Qing Dynasty, eastern Xizang Province, China 6.8 0.0 Depth unknown.

May

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
14[14]  Russian Empire, Kuril Islands 6.6 35.0
25[15]  United Kingdom, Solomon Islands 7.2 0.0 Depth unknown.

June

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
15[16]  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 7.0 35.0
24[17][18]  Japan, Ryukyu Islands 7.2 35.0 A tsunami caused some damage.
24[19]  Japan, Ryukyu Islands 6.5 35.0 Aftershock.

August

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
9[20][21]  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 7.2 35.0 Foreshock. Some damage was caused in the area.
9[22][23][24]  France, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia 7.9 0.0 Depth unknown. A tsunami resulted in at least 1 fatality. Some damage was caused in the area. 1
9[25][26]  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 7.5 0.0 Depth unknown. 18 people were killed. 8 homes collapsed and another 615 needed repair. Roads and railways suffered extensive damage. 18
10[27]  German New Guinea, north of Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea 6.9 0.0
11[28]  United Kingdom, Fiji 6.8 0.0

September

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
8[29]  United Kingdom, Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands 6.9 0.0 Depth unknown.
10[30] United States, Luzon, Philippines 0.0 0.0 VII Unknown magnitude or depth. Some damage was caused in the area.
30[31]  Japan, off the east coast of Honshu 6.8 0.0 Depth unknown. Aftershock.

October

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
8[32][33]  Honduras,  Nicaragua border area 7.1 0.0 Depth unknown. Some damage was caused in the area. A tsunami was generated.

November

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
15[34][35]  New Zealand, South Island 6.8 33.0 The 1901 Cheviot earthquake resulted in 1 death and major damage. 1
25[36]  Netherlands, Molucca Sea, Dutch East Indies 7.0 0.0 Depth unknown.

December

Date Country and location Mw Depth (km) MMI Notes Casualties
Dead Injured
9[37]  Mexico, Gulf of California 7.1 0.0
14[38][39]  United States, Luzon, Philippines 7.0 33.0 VII Some damage was reported in the region.
18[40] Ottoman Empire, Balikesir Province, Turkey 5.9 0.0 VIII Depth unknown. Some damage was reported in the region. Hundreds of homes were damaged.
30[41][42]  United States, south of Alaska 7.0 0.0 VI Depth unknown.
31[43][44]  United States, Fox Islands (Alaska) 7.1 0.0 Depth unknown. Some damage was caused. A tsunami was reported.

References

  1. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 7, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 13, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. January 18, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  4. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. February 15, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  5. ^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE". National Geophysical Data Center. February 15, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  6. ^ "M 6.4 - Central California". United States Geological Survey. March 3, 1901. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  7. ^ "Significant Earthquake: CALIFORNIA: SAN DIEGO". National Geophysical Data Center. March 3, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  8. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 5, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. March 16, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Significant Earthquake: BULGARIA: BALCHIK, KAVARNA, BLATNITSA, LIMANU". National Geophysical Data Center. March 31, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 5, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 5, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  13. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. April 21, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  14. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 14, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  15. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. May 25, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  16. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 15, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  17. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 24, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  18. ^ "Tsunami event: RYUKYU ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. June 24, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  19. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. June 24, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  20. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 9, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  21. ^ "Significant Earthquake: JAPAN: OFF NORTHEAST COAST HONSHU". National Geophysical Data Center. August 9, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  22. ^ "M 7.9 - southeast of the Loyalty Islands". United States Geological Survey. August 9, 1901. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  23. ^ "Significant Earthquake: NEW CALEDONIA: LOYALTY ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. August 9, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  24. ^ "Tsunami Event: LOYALTY ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. August 9, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  25. ^ "M 7.5 - off the east coast of Honshu, Japan". United States Geological Survey. August 9, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  26. ^ "Significant Earthquake: JAPAN: OFF NORTHEAST COAST HONSHU". National Geophysical Data Center. August 9, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  27. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 10, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  28. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. August 11, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  29. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. September 8, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  30. ^ "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: LUZON: E TAYABAS,CALAUAG BAY". National Geophysical Data Center. September 10, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  31. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. September 30, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  32. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. October 8, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  33. ^ "Significant Earthquake: NICARAGUA". National Geophysical Data Center. October 8, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  34. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 15, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  35. ^ "Historic earthquakes". Environment Canterbury. August 1, 2011. Archived from the original on June 14, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
  36. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. November 25, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  37. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. December 9, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  38. ^ "Centennial Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. December 14, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  39. ^ "Significant Earthquake: PHILIPPINES: LUZON". National Geophysical Data Center. December 14, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  40. ^ "Significant Earthquake: TURKEY: AYVALIK, MOSKO IS; GREECE: KHIOS". National Geophysical Data Center. December 18, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  41. ^ "M 7.0 - south of Alaska". United States Geological Survey. December 30, 1901. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  42. ^ "M 7.0 - south of Alaska". United States Geological Survey. December 30, 1901. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  43. ^ "M 7.1 - Fox Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska". United States Geological Survey. December 31, 1901. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  44. ^ "Significant Earthquake: ALASKA: ALEUTIAN ISLANDS: FOX ISLANDS". National Geophysical Data Center. December 31, 1901. Retrieved November 16, 2015.