This is a list of earthquakes in 2003. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage and/or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) time.
Note that an increase in detected earthquake numbers does not necessarily represent an increase in earthquakes per se. Population increase, habitation spread, and advances in earthquake detection technology all contribute to higher earthquake numbers being recorded over time. USGS's Website has more information.
For exact dates and live earthquakes please visit USGS's Global Earthquake Search Page and Real-time Earthquake Map or EMSC's Real-time Seismicity.
Fiji was struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on January 4 at a depth of 378.0 km (234.9 mi).[1]
Luzon was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on January 6 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[2] Fiji was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on January 9 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[3]
New Ireland was struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake that occurred on January 10 at a depth of 71.9 km (44.7 mi).[4]
The coast of Oregon was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on January 16 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[5]
Solomon Islands was struck by a magnitude 7.3 quake that occurred on January 20 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[6]
The coast of Guatemala was struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on January 21 at a depth of 24.0 km (14.9 mi).[7] One person was killed.
The coast of Colima was struck by a magnitude 7.6 quake that occurred on January 21 at a depth of 24.0 km (14.9 mi).[8] At least 29 people were killed, 300 were injured and 10,000 were made homeless. 2,005 houses were destroyed and 6,615 were damaged.[8]
Eastern Turkey was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on January 27 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[9] One person was killed. New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on February 10 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[11] The coast of New Guinea was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on February 12 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[12] Samar was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on February 15 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[13]
The Unimak Island region was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on February 19 at a depth of 19.0 km (11.8 mi).[14]
The Vosges department was struck by a magnitude 5,4 quake that occurred on February 22 at Saint-Dié-des-Vosges.[15]
Southern Xinjiang was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on February 24 at a depth of 11.0 km (6.8 mi).[16] 261 people were killed, more than 2,000 people were injured and more than 8,800 families were made homeless. Tremors were felt in Kashgar.[17] Southern Xinjiang was struck by a magnitude 5.4 quake that occurred on February 25 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[18] Five people were killed.
The coast of Papua was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on March 1 at a depth of 28.1 km (17.5 mi).[19] Banda Sea was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on March 9 at a depth of 45.9 km (28.5 mi).[21] Halmahera was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on March 10 at a depth of 93.8 km (58.3 mi).[22] New Ireland was struck by a magnitude 6.8 quake that occurred on March 11 at a depth of 40.2 km (25.0 mi).[23]
The Gulf of California was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on March 12 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[24] The coast of Papua was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on March 14 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[25]
Tonga was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on March 14 at a depth of 274.9 km (170.8 mi).[26]
The coast of Kamchatka Peninsula was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on March 15 at a depth of 30.2 km (18.8 mi).[27] The Rat Islands were struck by a magnitude 7.1 quake that occurred on March 17 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[28] The Rat Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on March 17 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[29] Solomon Islands was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on March 19 at a depth of 33.5 km (20.8 mi).[30] The Flores region was struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on March 25 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[31] Four people were killed. Tonga was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on March 28 at a depth of 41.2 km (25.6 mi).[32].svg/1280px-Flag_of_Afghanistan_(2002%E2%80%932004).svg.png){kind=small}
The Hindu Kush region was struck by a magnitude 5.9 quake the occurred on March 29 at a depth of 114.1 km (70.9 mi).[33] One person was killed. Seram was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on March 30 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[34] New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on March 31 at a depth of 46.8 km (29.1 mi).[35] Badakhshan was struck by a magnitude 4.6 quake that occurred on April 10 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[37] About 200 houses were destroyed and landslides occurred in Yaka Bagh.
The coast of Panama was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on April 11 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[38] Northern Qinghai was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on April 17 at a depth of 14.0 km (8.7 mi).[39] The Kuril Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on April 24 at a depth of 43.8 km (27.2 mi).[41]
Vanuatu was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on April 27 at a depth of 77.4 km (48.1 mi).[42]
Acre was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on April 27 at a depth of 559.9 km (347.9 mi).[43] The Kuril Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on April 29 at a depth of 62.5 km (38.8 mi).[44] Eastern Turkey was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on May 1 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[45] 177 people were killed, more than 1,000 injured and extensive damage across the Bingöl area. Tremors were felt in much of eastern Turkey.[46] Tonga was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on May 3 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[47]
The Kermadec Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake that occurred on May 4 at a depth of 62.4 km (38.8 mi).[48] The Santa Cruz Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on May 4 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[49] The Kermadec Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on May 4 at a depth of 45.6 km (28.3 mi).[50] Halmahera was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on May 5 at a depth of 123.6 km (76.8 mi).[51] Kepulauan Talaud was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on May 5 at a depth of 56.0 km (34.8 mi).[52] The Molucca Sea was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on May 11 at a depth of 30.2 km (18.8 mi).[54] Vanuatu was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on May 12 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[55] Java was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on May 14 at a depth of 79.1 km (49.2 mi).[57] Fiji was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on May 19 at a depth of 563.8 km (350.3 mi).[58] The coast of Colima was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on May 19 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[59]
Northern Algeria was struck by a magnitude 6.8 quake that occurred on May 21 at a depth of 12.0 km (7.5 mi).[60] At least 2,266 people were killed, 10,000 were injured, 26,000 housing units were damaged or destroyed and 160,000 were made homeless.[61]
The coast of Honshu was struck by a magnitude 7.0 quake that occurred on May 26 at a depth of 68.0 km (42.3 mi).[62] Halmahera was struck by a magnitude 7.0 quake that occurred on May 26 at a depth of 31.0 km (19.3 mi).[63] One person was killed. The Moro Gulf was struck by a magnitude 6.9 quake that occurred on May 26 at a depth of 565.8 km (351.6 mi).[64] Northern Algeria was struck by a magnitude 5.8 quake that occurred on May 27 at a depth of 8.0 km (5.0 mi).[65] Nine people were killed.
- The Mauritius-Réunion region was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on May 28 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[66]
The coast of Peru was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on June 3 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[67] New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on June 7 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[68]
Taiwan was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on June 10 at a depth of 44.5 km (27.7 mi).[69] Bougainville Island was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on June 12 at a depth of 186.3 km (115.8 mi).[70] The Rat Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on June 15 at a depth of 20.0 km (12.4 mi).[71] Kamchatka Peninsula was struck by a magnitude 6.9 quake that occurred on June 16 at a depth of 174.8 km (108.6 mi).[72] Amazonas was struck by a magnitude 7.1 quake that occurred on June 20 at a depth of 558.1 km (346.8 mi).[73]
Coquimbo was struck by a magnitude 6.8 quake that occurred on June 20 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[74] The Rat Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.9 quake that occurred on June 23 at a depth of 20.0 km (12.4 mi).[75]
Western Iran was struck by a magnitude 4.6 quake that occurred on June 24 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[76] One person was killed. Masbate was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on June 26 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[77] The Bismarck Sea was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on June 28 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[78] The Celebes Sea was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 1 at a depth of 635.4 km (394.8 mi).[79] Samar was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 1 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[80] Tonga was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 3 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[81] New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on July 4 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[82] Southern Iran was struck by a magnitude 5.8 quake that occurred on July 10 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[83] One person was killed..svg/1280px-Flag_of_Canada_(Pantone).svg.png){kind=small}
The Haida Gwaii region was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 12 at a depth of 20.0 km (12.4 mi).[84] Fars Province was struck by a magnitude 4.2 quake that occurred on July 12 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). Several people were injured in Darreh Shor.[85] New Ireland was struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on July 15 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[86] The coast of Jalisco was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 17 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[88] New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on July 21 at a depth of 189.6 km (117.8 mi).[89] Yunnan was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 21 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[90] 16 people were killed. The Vanuatu was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 22 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[91] New Ireland was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on July 25 at a depth of 24.0 km (14.9 mi).[92] Honshu was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on July 25 at a depth of 6.0 km (3.7 mi).[93]
-
The India-Bangladesh border region was struck by a magnitude 5.7 quake that occurred on July 26 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[94] Two people were killed. Fiji was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on July 27 at a depth of 212.9 km (132.3 mi).[95] Primorye was struck by a magnitude 6.8 quake that occurred on July 27 at a depth of 470.3 km (292.2 mi).[96].svg/1280px-Bandera_de_Bolivia_(Estado).svg.png){kind=small}
Chuquisaca was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on July 27 at a depth of 345.3 km (214.6 mi).[97] Halmahera was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on August 11 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[99].svg/1280px-Flag_of_Australia_(converted).svg.png){kind=small}
Macquarie Island was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on August 11 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[100] The Andaman Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on August 11 at a depth of 100.2 km (62.3 mi).[101]
Greece was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on August 14 at a depth of 8.0 km (5.0 mi).[102]-
The Greece-Albania region was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on August 14 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[103] At least fifty people were injured, some buildings and infrastructure were damaged and landslides were reported in Lefkada. Eastern Nei Mongol was struck by a magnitude 5.4 quake that occurred on August 16 at a depth of 24.4 km (15.2 mi).[104] Four people were killed. South Island was struck by a magnitude 7.2 quake that occurred on August 21 at a depth of 28.0 km (17.4 mi).[105] Guatemala was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on August 25 at a depth of 100.0 km (62.1 mi).[106] Kepulauan Barat Daya was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on August 28 at a depth of 409.2 km (254.3 mi).[108] Vanuatu was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on August 30 at a depth of 137.0 km (85.1 mi).[109] Primorye was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on August 31 at a depth of 481.1 km (298.9 mi).[110] Tonga was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on September 2 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[111] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on September 7 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[113] Solomon Islands was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on September 11 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[114] New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on September 12 at a depth of 50.4 km (31.3 mi).[115].svg/1280px-Flag_of_Myanmar_(1974%E2%80%932010).svg.png){kind=small}
Myanmar was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on September 21 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[116] Ten people were killed.
Dominican Republic was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on September 22 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[118] 3 people were killed. Hokkaido was struck by a magnitude 8.3 quake that occurred on September 25 at a depth of 27.0 km (16.8 mi).[119] One indirect fatality was reported.[120] Hokkaido was struck by a magnitude 7.4 quake that occurred on September 25 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[121] Hokkaido was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on September 26 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[122] Siberia was struck by a magnitude 7.3 quake that occurred on September 27 at a depth of 16.0 km (9.9 mi).[123] Three people were killed. Siberia was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on September 27 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[124] Hokkaido was struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on September 29 at a depth of 25.0 km (15.5 mi).[125] The Kermadec Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on September 30 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[127] The Kermadec Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on September 30 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[128] Siberia was struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake that occurred on October 1 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[129]
Samoa was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on October 7 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[130] Hokkaido was struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake that occurred on October 8 at a depth of 32.0 km (19.9 mi).[131] The Philippines was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on October 9 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[132] Fiji was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on October 13 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[133] Fiji was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on October 15 at a depth of 582.6 km (362.0 mi).[134] Yunnan was struck by a magnitude 5.6 quake that occurred on October 16 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[135] Three people were killed. Bougainville Island was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on October 17 at a depth of 133.0 km (82.6 mi).[136] The Molucca Sea was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on October 18 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[137] New Guinea was struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on October 22 at a depth of 53.5 km (33.2 mi).[138] The Gansu-Qinghai border region was struck by a magnitude 5.8 quake that occurred on October 25 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[139] Nine people were killed. New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on October 28 at a depth of 65.0 km (40.4 mi).[140] The coast of Honshu was struck by a magnitude 7.0 quake that occurred on October 31 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[141] The coast of South Island was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on November 2 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[142]
The coast of Colombia was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on November 5 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[143] Vanuatu was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on November 6 at a depth of 113.7 km (70.6 mi).[144] The Kermadec Islands was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on November 11 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[146] The Kermadec Islands was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on November 11 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[147] The Volcano Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on November 11 at a depth of 101.0 km (62.8 mi).[148] The Molucca Sea was struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on November 12 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[149] The coast of Honshu was struck by a magnitude 6.4 quake that occurred on November 12 at a depth of 384.9 km (239.2 mi).[150] Macquarie Island was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on November 13 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[151] Gansu was struck by a magnitude 5.1 quake that occurred on November 13 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[152] One person was killed. Vanuatu was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on November 14 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[153] The Sichuan-Yunnan-Guizhou region was struck by a magnitude 5.6 quake that occurred on November 14 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[154] Four people were killed. The Rat Islands was struck by a magnitude 7.8 quake that occurred on November 17 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[155] Samar was struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on November 18 at a depth of 35.0 km (21.7 mi).[156] One person was killed. New Britain was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on November 25 at a depth of 35.0 km (21.7 mi).[157]
- The Kazakhstan-Xinjiang region was struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on December 1 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[158] 11 people were killed. Komandorskiye Ostrova was struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake that occurred on December 5 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[159] The Andreanof Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.2 quake that occurred on December 9 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[160]
Virginia was struck by a magnitude 4.5 quake that occurred on December 9 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). Slight damage was caused in Bremo Bluff and Kents Store. [161] Taiwan was struck by a magnitude 6.8 quake that occurred on December 10 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[162] California was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on December 22 at a depth of 7.6 km (4.7 mi).[164] Two people were killed.-
The Panama-Costa Rica region was struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on December 25 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[165] Two people were killed. The Kermadec Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on December 25 at a depth of 34.6 km (21.5 mi).[166] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.5 quake that occurred on December 25 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[167] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.0 quake that occurred on December 25 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[168] Iran was struck by a magnitude 6.6 quake that occurred on December 26 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[169] 26,271 people were killed, 20,000 were injured, 60,000 were made homeless and much of the city of Bam was destroyed. A 2,000-year-old UNESCO world heritage site, the Arg-é Bam, was nearly completely destroyed by the earthquake.[170] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.8 quake that occurred on December 26 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[171] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on December 27 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[172] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 7.3 quake that occurred on December 27 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[173] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.7 quake that occurred on December 27 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[174] The Loyalty Islands were struck by a magnitude 6.3 quake that occurred on December 27 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi).[175] Hokkaido was struck by a magnitude 6.1 quake that occurred on December 29 at a depth of 33.0 km (20.5 mi).[176]