This is a list of earthquakes in 1927 . Only magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes appear on this 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. China and Japan both saw great destruction caused by earthquakes in March and May. The China earthquake in particular had nearly 41,000 deaths. Yunnan Province , China had its fair share of earthquakes. Ukraine had several earthquakes with one on September 11 causing deaths. The West Bank region had a destructive tremor in July.
Earthquakes in 1927 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1927
Strongest magnitude China , Gansu Province , (Magnitude 7.7) May 22Deadliest China , Gansu Province , (Magnitude 7.7) May 22, 40,912 deathsTotal fatalities 44,452 9.0+ 0
Rank
Death toll
Magnitude
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
40,912
7.7
China , Gansu Province
XI (Extreme )
15.0
May 22
2
3,022
7.0
Japan , Kyoto Prefecture , Honshu
VII (Very strong )
10.0
March 7
3
268
6.3
Transjordan , Balqaba Governorate
( )
15.0
July 11
4
101
5.5
China , Yunnan Province
VII (Very strong )
0.0
November 24
5
51
6.0
China , Yunnan Province
VIII (Severe )
0.0
March 14
6
50
6.3
Dutch East Indies , Sulawesi
VII (Very strong )
20.0
December 1
7
30
6.4
Taiwan , Chiayi County
( )
10.0
August 24
8
11
6.7
Soviet Union , Crimea
IX (Violent )
35.0
September 11
Note : At least 10 casualties
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
7.7
40,912
China , Gansu Province
XI (Extreme )
15.0
May 22
2
7.5
0
Dutch East Indies , northwest of the Tanimbar Islands
( )
35.0
June 3
3
7.3
0
United States , west of Chichagof Island , Alaska
VII (Very strong )
10.0
October 24
= 4
7.2
0
Chile , Aisen Region
( )
15.0
November 21
= 4
7.2
0
Soviet Union , Kamchatka Peninsula
( )
15.0
December 28
= 5
7.1
0
New Hebrides
( )
30.0
January 24
= 5
7.1
0
Dutch East Indies , Flores Sea
( )
15.0
March 3
= 5
7.1
0
Fiji
( )
295.0
April 1
= 5
7.1
0
Argentina , Mendoza Province
( )
110.0
April 14
= 5
7.1
0
Netherlands New Guinea , off the north coast of West Papua
( )
15.0
August 10
= 6
7.0
0
Japan , Kuril Islands
( )
15.0
February 16
= 6
7.0
3,022
Japan , Kyoto Prefecture , Honshu
( )
10.0
March 7
= 6
7.0
0
Japan , off the east coast of Honshu
( )
35.0
August 5
Note : At least 7.0 magnitude
January Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw New Hebrides Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 3 5.0–5.9 1
February Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw Kuril Islands Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 6
March Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw Dutch East Indies Deadliest 7.0 Mw Japan 3,022 deaths Total fatalities 3,080+ 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 4 5.0–5.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
3 [ 13]
Dutch East Indies , Flores Sea
7.1
15.0
7 [ 14] [ 15]
Japan , Kyoto Prefecture , Honshu
7.0
10.0
Major destruction was a consequence of the 1927 Kita Tango earthquake . 3,022 people were killed. Another 3,295 were injured. Property damage costs were $40 million (1927 rate). The earthquake destroyed 15,594 homes with a further 9,821 damaged.
3,022
3,295
13 [ 16]
Peru , off the north coast
6.0
35.0
14 [ 17]
China , Yunnan Province
6.0
0.0
VIII
At least 51 people were killed and many homes were destroyed in the area. The depth was unknown.
51+
15 [ 18]
Burma , Sagaing Region
6.5
130.0
15 [ 19]
China , Qinghai Province
6.0
35.0
20 [ 20]
China , Yunnan Province
5.0
0.0
VI
7 people were killed and a few homes were destroyed. The depth was unknown.
7
April Strongest magnitude 7.1 Mw 2 events Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 8
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1 [ 21]
Fiji
7.1
295.0
6 [ 22]
Brazil , Acre
6.0
600.0
13 [ 23]
Philippines , Luzon
6.8
170.0
13 [ 24]
Philippines , Luzon
6.2
140.0
Aftershock.
14 [ 25]
Argentina , Mendoza Province
7.1
110.0
1927 Mendoza earthquake
16 [ 26]
United States , Andreanof Islands , Alaska
6.5
20.0
17 [ 27]
Dutch East Indies , Barat Daya Islands
6.2
200.0
18 [ 28]
Afghanistan , Badakhshan Province
6.0
200.0
19 [ 29]
Philippines , Luzon
6.8
180.0
30 [ 30]
China , Xinjiang Province
6.0
35.0
May Strongest magnitude 7.7 Mw China Deadliest 7.7 Mw China 40,912 deaths Total fatalities 40,912 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 4
July Strongest magnitude 6.9 Mw Greece Deadliest 6.3 Mw Transjordan 268 deaths Total fatalities 268 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 5
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1 [ 50]
Argentina , Jujuy Province
6.5
200.0
2 [ 51]
British Virgin Islands , north of the British Virgin Islands
6.5
35.0
4 [ 52]
Dutch East Indies , off the east coast of Sulawesi
6.5
25.0
5 [ 53] [ 54]
Japan , off the east coast of Honshu
7.0
35.0
Some damage was reported.
8 [ 55]
Japan , Kuril Islands
6.8
105.6
10 [ 56]
Panama , south of
6.6
15.0
10 [ 57]
Netherlands New Guinea , off the north coast of West Papua
7.1
15.0
18 [ 58]
Japan , off the southeast coast of Honshu
6.9
20.0
23 [ 59]
Japan , off the southeast coast of Honshu
6.2
15.0
Aftershock.
24 [ 60] [ 61]
Taiwan , Chiayi County
6.4
10.0
30 people were killed and 190 were injured. 200 homes were destroyed.
30
190
October Strongest magnitude 7.3 Mw United States Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 1
November Strongest magnitude 7.2 Mw Chile Deadliest 5.5 Mw China 101+ deaths Total fatalities 101+ 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 8 5.0–5.9 1
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
4 [ 72] [ 73] [ 74]
United States , off the coast of central California
6.9
10.0
VIII
1927 Lompoc earthquake . Several towns sustained damage. A tsunami was observed.
6 [ 75]
Dutch East Indies , Banda Sea
6.8
150.0
14 [ 76]
Soviet Union , Sakha Republic
6.5
15.0
Foreshock.
14 [ 77]
Soviet Union , Sakha Republic
6.7
15.0
14 [ 78]
Chile , Coquimbo Region
6.7
50.0
15 [ 79]
Soviet Union , Sakha Republic
6.0
35.0
Aftershock.
16 [ 80]
Philippines , Davao Gulf , Mindanao
6.9
35.0
21 [ 81]
Chile , Aisen Region
7.2
15.0
24 [ 82]
China , Yunnan Province
5.5
0.0
VII
At least 101 deaths were caused and many homes were destroyed.
101+
26 [ 83]
Argentina , Salta Province
6.8
185.0
^ "Significant Earthquake: CALIFORNIA, MEXICO" . National Geophysical Data Center . January 1, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . January 15, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – near the east coast of Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey. January 17, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 – Vanuatu" . United States Geological Survey. January 24, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Vanuatu" . United States Geological Survey. January 24, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – Bougainville region, Papua New Guinea" . United States Geological Survey. February 1, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Yellow Sea" . United States Geological Survey. February 3, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . February 14, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey. February 16, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Kuril Islands" . United States Geological Survey. February 16, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.2 – North Island of New Zealand" . United States Geological Survey. February 25, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Atacama, Chile" . United States Geological Survey. February 28, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 – Flores Sea" . United States Geological Survey. March 3, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – western Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey. March 7, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: JAPAN: HONSHU: SW" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 7, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . March 13, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE: XUNDIAN" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 14, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . March 15, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . March 15, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE: XINPING" . National Geophysical Data Center . March 20, 1927. Retrieved February 6, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 1, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 6, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 13, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 13, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 14, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. April 16, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 17, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 18, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 19, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . April 30, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 9, 1927. Retrieved February 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 10, 1927. Retrieved February 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 17, 1927. Retrieved February 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . May 22, 1927. Retrieved February 17, 2016 .
^ "M 7.7 – Gansu-Qinghai border region, China" . United States Geological Survey. May 22, 1927. Retrieved February 17, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE" . National Geophysical Data Center . May 22, 1927. Retrieved February 17, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 2, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 7.5 – Banda Sea" . United States Geological Survey. June 3, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 5, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 11, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . June 26, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: UKRAINE: CRIMEA: SEBASTOPOL" . National Geophysical Data Center . June 26, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 1, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: GREECE: OETYLOS (LACONIA)" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 1, 1927. Retrieved February 13, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 7, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 – Dead Sea region" . United States Geological Survey. July 11, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ISRAEL; JORDAN: DAMIYA" . National Geophysical Data Center . July 11, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . July 12, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 – central Iran" . United States Geological Survey. July 22, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 1, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 2, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 4, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 7.0 – off the east coast of Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey. August 5, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: SANRIKU, JAPAN" . National Geophysical Data Center . August 5, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . August 8, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.6 – south of Panama" . United States Geological Survey. August 10, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 7.1 – near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. August 10, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 – off the east coast of Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey. August 18, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.2 – off the east coast of Honshu, Japan" . United States Geological Survey. August 23, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – Taiwan" . United States Geological Survey. August 24, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: TAIWAN" . National Geophysical Data Center . August 24, 1927. Retrieved February 20, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 8, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 – Crimea region, Ukraine" . United States Geological Survey. September 11, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: UKRAINE: CRIMEA: SEBASTOPOL" . National Geophysical Data Center . September 11, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . September 18, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.4 – northern Xinjiang, China" . United States Geological Survey. September 23, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: UKRAINE: CRIMEA: SEBASTOPOL" . National Geophysical Data Center . September 24, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . October 3, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 7.3 – Southeastern Alaska" . United States Geological Survey. October 24, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: ALASKA: SE ALASKA" . National Geophysical Data Center . October 24, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Tsunami Event: SE. ALASKA, AK" . National Geophysical Data Center . October 24, 1927. Retrieved February 26, 2019 .
^ "M 6.9 – offshore Central California" . United States Geological Survey. November 4, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CALIFORNIA: S: OFF COAST" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 4, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Tsunami Event: S. CALIFORNIA" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 4, 1927. Retrieved February 26, 2019 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . November 6, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.5 – northwestern Sakha, Russia" . United States Geological Survey. November 14, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 – northwestern Sakha, Russia" . United States Geological Survey. November 14, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.7 – Coquimbo, Chile" . United States Geological Survey. November 14, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . November 15, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.9 – Mindanao, Philippines" . United States Geological Survey. November 16, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – Aisen, Chile" . United States Geological Survey. November 21, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: CHINA: YUNNAN PROVINCE: FUMIN" . National Geophysical Data Center . November 24, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "On-Line Bulletin" . International Seismological Centre . November 26, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 6.3 – Minahasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia" . United States Geological Survey. December 1, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Significant Earthquake: INDONESIA: SULAWESI: DONGGALA" . National Geophysical Data Center . December 1, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "Tsunami Event: SULAWESI" . National Geophysical Data Center . December 1, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .
^ "M 7.2 – Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia" . United States Geological Survey. December 28, 1927. Retrieved February 21, 2016 .