On this day: 18 August
Historic disasters
23
Recorded deaths
237
Eruptions began
13
Major events since 1900
20
Disasters on 18 August in history
Damaging earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions from the NOAA Natural Hazards database, deadliest first.
M5.9 earthquake, Mascara
18 August 1994Algeria171 killed
M7.2 earthquake, Hebgen Lake
18 August 1959USATriggered a tsunami28 killed$11m damage
Earthquake, Thebes, Boeotia
18 August 1853GreeceTriggered a tsunami17 killed
M5.6 earthquake, W, Guayaquil
18 August 1980Ecuador8 killed100 injured$5m damage
M6.3 earthquake, Sulawesi: Sigi, Parigi Mountong
18 August 2012Indonesia6 killed43 injured471 homes destroyed
M6.5 earthquake, Ambon Island
18 August 1754IndonesiaTriggered a tsunami4 killed
M6.6 earthquake, Masbate
18 August 2020Philippines2 killed50 injured138 homes destroyed$1m damage
Asamayama eruption (VEI 2)
18 August 1961Japan1 killed
M6.2 earthquake, Ilam Province: Abdanan
18 August 2014Iran330 injured2,700 homes destroyed$43m damage
M4.7 earthquake, Dushanbe (Stalinabad)
18 August 2006Tajikistan
M5.5 earthquake, Tibet (Xizang Province): Bomi,Medog,Nyingchi
18 August 2003China
Tsunami, Western Norway
18 August 1983NorwayWaves up to 7 m
M7.1 earthquake, La Union, Valdivia
18 August 1974ChileTriggered a tsunami
M3.5 earthquake, Sicily
18 August 1973Italy$1m damage
M6.9 earthquake, Kashima, Japan
18 August 1927JapanTriggered a tsunami
M6.0 earthquake, Taupo
18 August 1895New ZealandTriggered a tsunami
Tsunami, Sw England
18 August 1892UKWaves up to 4 m
M5.9 earthquake, Pilar
18 August 1874Venezuela
Fuego eruption (VEI 2)
18 August 1860Guatemala
Tsunami, S. California
18 August 1854USAWaves up to 0.03 m
Tsunami, Dorset, England
18 August 1797UK
Earthquake, Dominican Republic
18 August 1751Dominican Republic
Earthquake, Dodecanese Islands
18 August 1493Greece
Major events from our live records
Big earthquakes and major disasters on 18 August in recent decades.
- 7.3
M7.3 earthquake near Tandai, Guadalcanal Province
543 km deep
Extreme - 7.3
M7.3 earthquake near Fuyun, Xinjiang
10 km deep
Extreme - 7.2
M7.2 earthquake near Bozeman, Montana
12 km deep
Extreme - 7.1
M7.1 earthquake near Carahue, Araucania
36 km deep
Extreme - 7.0
M7.0 earthquake near Isumi, Chiba
20 km deep
Extreme - 6.9
M6.9 earthquake - 17 km N of Port-Olry, Vanuatu
93 km deep Tsunami flag
Major - 6.9
M6.9 earthquake near Bengkulu, Bengkulu
26 km deep
Major - 6.9
M6.9 earthquake - South Sandwich Islands region
35 km deep
Major - 6.8
M6.8 earthquake near Bengkulu, Bengkulu
22 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake near Caldera, Atacama
10 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake - 220 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia
15 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake near Esperanza, Bicol Region
10 km deep Tsunami flag
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake - north of Ascension Island
35 km deep Tsunami flag
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake - 186 km ESE of Kuril’sk, Russia
15 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Bozeman, Montana
10 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake - 69 km S of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia
57 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Masbate, Bicol Region
20 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Port-Vila, Shefa
55 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Lewoleba, East Nusa Tenggara
600 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake near Palu, Central Sulawesi
10 km deep
Major
Eruptions that began on 18 August
From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.
- 2022Kaitoku Seamount, JapanVEI 0
- 2017San Cristobal, NicaraguaVEI 3
- 2016Ambae, VanuatuVEI ?
- 1968Tongariro, New ZealandVEI 2
- 1965Batur, IndonesiaVEI 1
- 1961Asamayama, JapanVEI 2
- 1940Izu-Oshima, JapanVEI 1
- 1888Merapi, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1885Awu, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1870Lamongan, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1860Fuego, GuatemalaVEI 2
- 1783Vesuvius, ItalyVEI 3
- 1741Oshima-Oshima, JapanVEI 4