Earthquakes in 1998 Approximate epicenters of the earthquakes in 1998
Strongest magnitude 8.1 Mw Antarctica Deadliest 6.6 Afghanistan 4,500 deaths Total fatalities 9,934 9.0+ 0 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 11 6.0–6.9 204
This is a list of earthquakes in 1998 . Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Maximum intensities are indicated on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale , and all data are sourced from the United States Geological Survey .
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
Event
1
6.6
4,500
Afghanistan , Hindu Kush
VIII (Severe )
30.0
May 30
May 1998 Afghanistan earthquake
2
7.0
2,700
Papua New Guinea , Aitape offshore
VIII (Severe )
10.0
July 17
1998 Papua New Guinea earthquake
3
5.9
2,323
Afghanistan , Hindu Kush
VIII (Severe )
33.0
February 4
February 1998 Afghanistan earthquake
4
6.3
145
Turkey , Adana
IX (Violent )
33.0
June 27
1998 Adana–Ceyhan earthquake
5
6.6
105
Bolivia , Cochabamba
VIII (Severe )
24.0
May 22
1998 Aiquile earthquake
6
5.7
70
China , Inner Mongolia
VIII (Severe )
30.3
January 10
1998 Zhangbei–Shanyi earthquake
7
7.7
41
Indonesia , North Maluku offshore
IX (Violent )
33.0
November 29
1998 North Maluku earthquake
8
5.8
12
Iran , Qayen
VIII (Severe )
33.0
April 10
-
9
6.2
10
Portugal , Azores Islands offshore
VIII (Severe )
10.0
July 9
1998 Azores Islands earthquake
At least 10 dead.
Rank
Magnitude
Death toll
Location
MMI
Depth (km)
Date
1
8.1
0
Antarctica , Balleny Islands offshore
I (Not felt )
10.0
March 25
2
7.7
41
Indonesia , North Maluku offshore
IX (Violent )
33.0
November 29
3
7.5
0
Japan , Ishigaki offshore
V (Moderate )
33.0
May 3
3
7.5
0
New Caledonia , Loyalty Islands offshore
I (Not felt )
100.6
January 4
5
7.2
0
Fiji , Levuka offshore
III (Weak )
537.2
March 29
5
7.2
3
Ecuador , Bahía de Caráquez
X (Extreme )
33.0
August 4
7
7.1
1
Chile , Antofagasta
VIII (Severe )
42.0
January 30
7
7.1
0
Japan , Bonin Islands offshore
IV (Light )
440.5
August 20
9
7.0
2,700
Papua New Guinea , Aitape offshore
VIII (Severe )
10.0
July 17
9
7.0
0
Solomon Islands , Lata offshore
VII (Very strong )
110.2
July 16
9
7.0
0
Indonesia , Sumatra offshore
VIII (Severe )
55.7
April 1
9
7.0
0
Indonesia , Banda Sea offshore
VIII (Severe )
33.0
November 9
January Strongest magnitude 7.5 Mw New Caledonia Deadliest 5.7 Mw China 70 deathsTotal fatalities 71 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 6
February Strongest magnitude 6.8 Mw Iceland Deadliest 5.9 Mw Afghanistan 2,323 deaths Total fatalities 2,324 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 4
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
3[ 11]
Mexico , Oaxaca
6.4
33.0
VIII[ 4]
Moderate damage in San Agustin .
-
-
4[ 12]
Afghanistan , Hindu Kush region
5.9
30.0
VIII[ 4]
2,323
818
11[ 13]
Philippines , Leyte
5.5
56.8
IV
Six people injured, a fishing pier destroyed, 11 buildings damaged, roads cracked and water pipes damaged at Sogod .
-
6
16[ 14]
Iceland , Reykjanes Ridge offshore
6.8
10.0
I
-
-
-
19[ 15]
Indonesia , Maluku offshore
6.5
33.0
VIII[ 4]
-
-
-
20[ 16]
Afghanistan , Hindu Kush region
6.4
235.6
IV
One person killed and 11 injured in Pakistan . An earthquake-induced avalanche destroyed 35 houses, including a mosque, left 300 people homeless and killed several dozen livestock in Kashmir .
1
11
March Strongest magnitude 8.1 Mw Antarctica Deadliest 6.6 Mw Iran 5 deaths Total fatalities 6 8.0–8.9 1 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 4
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
3[ 17]
Guatemala region
6.1
62.8
VII[ 4]
Landslides blocked some highways and electrical cables damaged in Nahuala .
-
-
14[ 18]
Iran , Kerman
6.6
9.0
IX[ 4]
Five people Killed, 50 injured, 10,000 homeless, 2,000 houses damaged or destroyed and 1,200 livestock killed in Golbaf .
5
50
19[ 19]
China , Xinjiang
5.6
33.0
VII[ 4]
400 homes destroyed and some livestock were killed in the epicentral area.
-
-
20[ 20]
New Zealand , Auckland Islands offshore
6.7
10.0
I
-
-
-
25[ 21]
Antarctica , Balleny Islands offshore
8.1
10.0
I
The 1998 Balleny Islands earthquake is believed to be the largest instrumentally recorded earthquake in this area to date, and the largest earthquake in 1998. A tsunami was observed with heights of 1 cm in southern Australia.[ 22]
-
-
25[ 23]
Australia region offshore
6.4
10.0
I
-
-
-
26[ 24]
Italy , Assisi
5.4
10.0
VII[ 4]
One person died from a heart attack and several buildings damaged in the epicentral area.
1
-
29[ 25]
Fiji , Levuka offshore
7.2
537.2
III
-
-
-
April Strongest magnitude 7.0 Mw Indonesia Deadliest 5.8 Iran 12 deaths Total fatalities 13 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 3
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
1[ 26]
Indonesia , Mentawai Islands Offshore
7.0
55.7
VIII[ 4]
-
-
-
1[ 27]
Chile , Los Lagos offshore
6.7
9.0
V
-
-
-
3[ 28]
Italy , Assisi
5.2
10.0
VII
Five people injured and 300 houses damaged or destroyed in Gualdo .
-
5
3[ 29]
Peru , Ucayali
6.6
164.6
V
-
-
-
4[ 30]
Turkey , Afyon
5.3
10.0
VI
Some minor damage occurred in the Afyon area.
-
-
10[ 31]
Iran , Qayen
5.8
33.0
VIII[ 4]
At least 12 people killed, 10 injured and more than 600 homes severely damaged in the Birjand -Gonabad area.
12
10
12[ 32]
Slovenia , Tolmin
5.6
10.0
VIII
One person died of a heart attack at Bovec . Landslides and damaged buildings left 700 people homeless. Some damage in Austria .
1
-
13[ 33]
Turkey , Bingöl
5.3
33.0
VII[ 4]
Eleven people were injured and several buildings damaged or destroyed at Karliova .
-
11
20[ 34]
Mexico , Guerrero
6.0
67.3
V
-
-
-
May Strongest magnitude 7.5 Mw Japan Deadliest 6.6 Afghanistan 4,500 deaths Total fatalities 4,605 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 1 6.0–6.9 4
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
3[ 35]
Japan , Ryuku Islands offshore
7.5
33.0
V
A minor local tsunami was generated with recorded wave heights of 0.04 m on Ishigaki .
-
-
13[ 36]
Papua New Guinea , New Britain
6.6
61.4
VIII[ 4]
Minor damage in the Kokopo area.
-
-
16[ 37]
Fiji Islands offshore
6.9
586.1
I
-
-
-
22[ 38]
Bolivia , Cochabamba
6.6
24.0
VIII
105
150
28[ 39]
Egypt , Mediterranean Sea offshore
5.5
10.0
VI
One person injured in Cairo .
-
1
28[ 40]
China , Xinjiang
5.6
33.0
VII[ 4]
Twenty-eight people injured, more than 2,000 buildings destroyed, an additional 3,000 damaged and 5,000 head of cattle killed in Xinjiang .
-
28
30[ 41]
Afghanistan , Badakhshan Province
6.6
30.0
VIII[ 4]
4,500
10,001
June Strongest magnitude 6.4 Mw Russia Deadliest 6.3 Turkey 145 deaths Total fatalities 145 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 5
The Ribeirinha lighthouse after the earthquake in Portugal .
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
4[ 47]
Turkey , Adana
5.4
33.0
VII[ 4]
At least 1,000 people injured and one building collapsed in Adana.
-
1,000
9[ 48]
Portugal , Azores Islands offshore
6.2
10.0
VIII
10
100
9[ 49]
Azerbaijan region
6.0
26.0
VII[ 4]
Extensive damage occurred in Astara and Yardimli .
-
-
9[ 50]
New Zealand , Kermadec Islands offshore
6.9
129.5
I
-
-
-
16[ 51]
Solomon Islands , Nendo offshore
7.0
110.2
VII
-
-
-
17[ 52]
Taiwan , Nantou County
5.7
12.6
VIII[ 4]
Five people killed, 27 others injured, damage and landslides in Chiayi County .
5
27
17[ 53]
Papua New Guinea , Aitape offshore
7.0
10.0
VIII
2,700
Thousands
28[ 54]
China , Xinjiang
5.2
33.0
VI
Several people injured and 19 houses collapsed in Baicheng County .
-
Several
29[ 55]
Chile , Valparaíso
6.4
51.1
VI
Two people died from heart attacks in Santiago and four miners injured at the Boton de Oro mine .
2
4
29[ 56]
Indonesia , Papua
6.7
33.0
VIII[ 4]
-
-
-
August Strongest magnitude 7.2 Mw Ecuador Deadliest 7.2 Ecuador 6.4 China 3 deaths Total fatalities 6 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 3
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
2[ 57]
China , Xinjiang
5.6
10.0
VIII[ 4]
Two people injured and several homes destroyed in Jiashi County .
-
2
4[ 58]
Iran , Khorasan province
5.3
33.0
V
Some damage occurred in Khorasan province .
-
-
4[ 59]
Ecuador , Manabi
7.2
33.0
X[ 4]
3
40
12[ 60]
United States , California
5.1
8.8
VII[ 4]
Two people injured in Santa Cruz County . Some damage to a church at San Juan Bautista and minor cracking of highway 101 in San Benito County .
-
2
15[ 61]
Italy , Lazio
4.8
10.0
VII
Some damage in Antrodoco
-
-
15[ 62]
Japan , Nagano Prefecture
5.5
10.0
VII[ 4]
Damage due to a landslide in Gifu Prefecture .
-
-
20[ 63]
Japan , Bonin Islands offshore
7.1
440.5
IV
-
-
-
20[ 64]
United States , Alaska , Aleutian Islands offshore
6.3
33.0
I
-
-
-
23[ 65]
Nicaragua , Chinandega offshore
6.7
54.6
V[ 4]
-
-
27[ 66]
China , Xinjiang
6.4
10.0
VIII[ 4]
Three people killed, seven injured, more than 3,600 houses destroyed, 18,771 damaged and 159 livestock killed in Jiashi County .
3
7
28[ 67]
Japan , Tokyo offshore
5.4
75.9
V
Two people were slightly injured in the Tokyo -Yokohama area.
-
2
October Strongest magnitude 6.6 Mw Indonesia Total fatalities 0 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 2
November Strongest magnitude 7.7 Mw Indonesia Deadliest 7.7 Indonesia 41 deaths Total fatalities 51 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 2 6.0–6.9 2
Date
Country and location
Mw
Depth (km)
MMI
Notes
Casualties
Dead
Injured
8[ 84]
Indonesia , East Nusa Tenggara offshore
6.4
33.0
VI
-
-
-
9[ 85]
Indonesia , East Timor offshore
6.7
33.0
VIII[ 4]
-
-
-
9[ 86]
7.0
33.0
VIII[ 4]
-
-
-
13[ 87]
Iran , Fars
5.4
33.0
VII[ 4]
Five people killed, 105 others injured and 850 houses damaged by the earthquake and landslides.
5
105
18[ 88]
Iran , Kerman
5.4
33.0
V
Damage to buildings in Kerman .
-
-
19[ 89]
China , Yunnan
5.6
33.0
VIII[ 4]
Five people killed, 1,543 others injured and over 28,000 houses damaged in the epicentral area.
5
1,543
29[ 90]
Indonesia , North Maluku offshore
7.7
33.0
IX
41 people were killed and 171 people were injured in the 1998 North Maluku earthquake , with over 500 homes destroyed and over 700 others damaged.
41
171
December Strongest magnitude 6.8 Mw Tonga Deadliest 5.7 Afghanistan 5 deaths Total fatalities 5 8.0–8.9 0 7.0–7.9 0 6.0–6.9 2
^ "M 7.5 – southeast of the Loyalty Islands" .
^ "M 5.7 – 44 km NW of Zhangjiakou, China" .
^ "M 6.4 – 101 km E of Pangoa, Peru" .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar EXPO-CAT Earthquake Catalog , Version 2007-12, United States Geological Survey, December 1, 2008, retrieved 9 February 2025
^ "M 6.6 – 10 km SSW of San José El Ídolo, Guatemala" .
^ "M 6.6 – 47 km SSW of Ovalle, Chile" .
^ "M 6.7 – 149 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji" .
^ "M 6.6 – 159 km ENE of Labasa, Fiji" .
^ "M 6.5 – south of the Fiji Islands" .
^ "M 7.1 – 34 km SSE of Antofagasta, Chile" .
^ "M 6.4 – 2 km E of Benito Juárez, Mexico" .
^ "M 5.9 – 23 km ESE of Rust?q, Afghanistan" .
^ "M 5.5 – 6 km S of Sogod, Philippines" .
^ "M 6.8 – Reykjanes Ridge" .
^ "M 6.5 – 126 km S of Amahai, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.4 – 46 km WSW of Ashk?sham, Afghanistan" .
^ "M 6.1 – 9 km SSW of San José El Ídolo, Guatemala" .
^ "M 6.6 – 52 km ESE of Kerman, Iran" .
^ "M 5.6 – 84 km NE of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 6.7 – Auckland Islands, New Zealand region" .
^ "M 8.1 – Balleny Islands region" .
^ "Tsunami information" . NGDC.
^ "M 6.4 – south of Australia" .
^ "M 5.4 – 1 km E of Esanatoglia, Italy" .
^ "M 7.2 – 178 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji" .
^ "M 7.0 – 95 km W of Pariaman, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.7 – 131 km WSW of Corral, Chile" .
^ "M 5.2 – 8 km E of Valfabbrica, Italy" .
^ "M 6.6 – 43 km NE of San Fernando, Peru" .
^ "M 5.3 – 4 km N of Dinar, Turkey" .
^ "M 5.8 – 84 km ESE of B?rjand, Iran" .
^ "M 5.6 – 5 km E of Kobarid, Slovenia" .
^ "M 5.3 – 7 km SE of Karl?ova, Turkey" .
^ "M 6.0 – 17 km ENE of Aratichanguío, Mexico" .
^ "M 7.5 – 254 km SSE of Ishigaki, Japan" .
^ "M 6.6 – 108 km SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 6.9 – south of the Fiji Islands" .
^ "M 6.6 – 25 km NNW of Mizque, Bolivia" .
^ "M 5.5 – 41 km E of Mersa Matruh, Egypt" .
^ "M 5.6 – 13 km NNE of Zangguy, China" .
^ "M 6.6 – 24 km E of Rust?q, Afghanistan" .
^ "M 6.4 – 96 km E of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia" .
^ "M 6.3 – 2 km NNE of Cabeza de Toro, Mexico" .
^ "M 6.3 – Ascension Island region" .
^ "M 6.3 – 12 km S of Adana, Turkey" .
^ "M 6.3 – west of Macquarie Island" .
^ "M 5.4 – 12 km S of Adana, Turkey" .
^ "M 6.2 – 12 km N of Horta, Portugal" .
^ "M 6.0 – 10 km SE of Lerik, Azerbaijan" .
^ "M 6.9 – Kermadec Islands, New Zealand" .
^ "M 7.0 – 52 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands" .
^ "M 5.7 – 31 km ESE of Pizitou, Taiwan" .
^ "M 7.0 – 50 km WNW of Aitape, Papua New Guinea" .
^ "M 5.2 – 119 km NE of Aksu, China" .
^ "M 6.4 – 16 km NNW of La Ligua, Chile" .
^ "M 6.7 – 192 km W of Abepura, Indonesia" .
^ "M 5.6 – 87 km E of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 5.3 – 15 km SSW of Bojnurd, Iran" .
^ "M 7.2 – 3 km E of Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador" .
^ "M 5.1 – 10 km SW of Ridgemark, California" .
^ "M 4.8 – 3 km NE of Cittaducale, Italy" .
^ "M 5.5 – 22 km WSW of Hotaka, Japan" .
^ "M 7.1 – Bonin Islands, Japan region" .
^ "M 6.3 – 196 km SE of Attu Station, Alaska" .
^ "M 6.7 – 130 km SW of Corinto, Nicaragua" .
^ "M 6.4 – 118 km E of Kashgar, China" .
^ "M 5.4 – 14 km E of Kawasaki, Japan" .
^ "M 6.8 – 123 km SSE of Pondaguitan, Philippines" .
^ "M 5.9 – 19 km W of Shizukuishi, Japan" .
^ "M 6.6 – 66 km NNW of Coquimbo, Chile" .
^ "M 5.1 – 12 km E of Tendo, Japan" .
^ "M 6.4 – 88 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu" .
^ "M 5.6 – 61 km N of Mandalgovi, Mongolia" .
^ "M 6.6 – 8 km WSW of Sumberpucung, Indonesia" .
^ "M 5.5 – 12 km W of Ljig, Serbia" .
^ "M 5.3 – 17 km S of Kukës, Albania" .
^ "M 5.4 – 15 km WNW of Darreh Shahr, Iran" .
^ "M 6.2 – 16 km SSE of Pucara, Peru" .
^ "M 5.9 – 57 km N of Palu, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.0 - 55 km N of Palu, Indonesia" .
^ "M 4.4 – 6 km ESE of El Crucero, Nicaragua" .
^ "M 4.7 – 91 km ENE of Lijiang, China" .
^ "M 6.6 – 128 km ESE of Tondano, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.4 – 41 km SW of Ende, Indonesia" .
^ "M 6.7 – 282 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste" .
^ "M 7.0 – 278 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste" .
^ "M 5.4 – 53 km WNW of Gerash, Iran" .
^ "M 5.4 – 46 km E of Kerman, Iran" .
^ "M 5.6 – 93 km ENE of Lijiang, China" .
^ "M 7.7 – 264 km ESE of Luwuk, Indonesia" .
^ "M 4.5 – 56 km SSW of Weining, China" .
^ "M 6.6 – 138 km E of Laikit, Laikit II (Dimembe), Indonesia" .
^ "M 5.7 – 42 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan" .
^ "M 6.8 – 131 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga" .
Zhangbei-Shanyi (5.7, Jan 10) †
1st Afghanistan (6.1, Feb 4) †
Balleny Islands (8.1, Mar 25)
Ryukyu Islands (7.5, May 4)
2nd Afghanistan (6.5, May 30) † ‡
Aiquile (6.6 May 22) †
Adana–Ceyhan (6.3, Jun 27) †
Azores Islands (6.2, Jul 9)
Papua New Guinea (7.0, Jul 17) †
Bahía de Caráquez (7.2, Aug 4)
Pymatuning (5.2, Sep 25)
Mionica (5.5, Sep 29)
Ninglang (6.2, Nov 19)
North Maluku (7.7, Nov 29) †
† indicates earthquake resulting in at least 30 deaths ‡ indicates the deadliest earthquake of the year