Special Earthquake Events

IRIS features special earthquake event pages to provide useful resources for the science community and the general public. These "Special Event" pages highlight earthquakes that had a major effect on a population or have some other unique scientific significance.

2008

Magnitude 7.9 - EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA

2008 May 12

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 90 km (55 miles) WNW of Chengdu, Sichuan, China and 1545 km (960 miles) SW of BEIJING, Beijing, China at 12:28 AM MDT, May 12, 2008 (2:28 PM local time in China).

At least 12,000 people killed and severe damage in the Dujiangyan-Mianzhu-Mianyang area. Landslides blocked roads and buried buildings in the Beichuan-Wenchuan area. Felt (VII) at Chengdu, (VI) at Xi'an and (V) at Chongqing and Lanzhou. Felt in much of central, eastern and southern China, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wuhan and in Hong Kong. Also felt in parts of Bangladesh, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Read more  | Maps | Seismograms | USGS CoreCast

Magnitude 5.2 - ILLINOIS

2008 April 18

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 35 km (20 miles) SW of Vincennes, Indiana and 205 km (125 miles) SW of INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana at 3:36 AM MDT, Apr 18, 2008 (4:36 AM CDT in Illinois). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available.

Felt Reports

Reports of minor structural damage in West Salem, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky. Felt over a wide area of the central United States with felt reports as far west as Kansas, as far north as the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and as far south as Georgia.

Read more  | Maps | Seismograms | USGS CoreCast

Magnitude 7.3 - LOYALTY ISLANDS

2008 April 9

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 85 km (55 miles) SSW of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu, 175 km (110 miles) NE of Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, 275 km (170 miles) S of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu, 1800 km (1120 miles) ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia at 5:46 AM MST, Apr 9, 2008 (11:46 PM local time in Loyalty Islands). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time.

Read more  | Maps

Magnitude 7.2 - XINJIANG-XIZANG BORDER REGION

2008 March 21

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 230 km (140 miles) SE of Hotan, Xinjiang or 3105 km (1930 miles) W of Beijing, China at 3:33 PM MST, Mar 20, 2008 (Mar 21 at 6:33 AM local time in China). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time.

Read more  | Maps | Seismograms

Magnitude 7.0 - KEPULAUAN MENTAWAI REGION, INDONESIA

2008 February 25

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 160 km (100 miles) SSW of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia and 855 km (530 miles) WNW of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia at 1:36 AM MST, Feb 25, 2008 (3:36 PM local time in Indonesia). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available.

Read more  | Maps | Seismograms

Magnitude 6.0 - NEVADA

2008 February 21

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 15 km (10 miles) ESE of Wells, Nevada 15 km (10 miles) ESE of Wells, Nevada at 7:16 AM MST, Feb 21, 2008 (6:16 AM PST in Nevada). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size.

Read more  | Maps | PAGER | Nevada Earthquakes     Seismograms | IRIS Data Request

Magnitude 7.4 - SIMEULUE, INDONESIA

2008 February 20

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 310 km (195 miles) SSE of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia, 310 km (195 miles) WSW of Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia, 335 km (210 miles) WNW of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia, 1545 km (960 miles) NW of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia at 1:08 AM MST, Feb 20, 2008 (3:08 PM local time in Indonesia). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available.

Read more  | Maps | Seismograms

Magnitude 6.4 - OFF THE COAST OF OREGON

2008 January 10 (UTC)

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred about 330 km (205 miles) W (268°) from Eugene, OR on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 01:37:18 UTC (Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 05:37:18 PM at epicenter). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time.

Read more  | Maps | Seismograms | Summary

Magnitude 6.6 - QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION

2008 January 5

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 200 km (125 miles) WSW of Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada, 240 km (150 miles) WNW of Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada, 585 km (365 miles) WNW of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 620 km (385 miles) NW of VICTORIA, British Columbia, Canada at 4:01 AM MST, Jan 5, 2008 (3:01 AM PST in Canada). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. There have been no reports of damage.

Read more  | Maps | Seismograms | Summary

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