Open Earth

On this day: 13 December

The deadliest recorded disaster on 13 December was the 115 magnitude 7.5 earthquake near Antakya (Antioch), which killed 260,000 people.

Historic disasters

13

Recorded deaths

264,258

Eruptions began

9

Major events since 1900

20

Disasters on 13 December in history

Damaging earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions from the NOAA Natural Hazards database, deadliest first.

  • M7.5 earthquake, Antakya (Antioch)

    13 December 115TurkeyTriggered a tsunami260,000 killed

  • M6.0 earthquake, Dhamar

    13 December 1982Yemen2,800 killed1,500 injured$2,000m damage

  • M6.5 earthquake, Farsinaj

    13 December 1957Iran1,200 killed

  • Dieng Volcanic Complex eruption (VEI 1)

    13 December 1964Indonesia114 killed

  • Earthquake, Shaanxi Province

    13 December 600China101 killed

  • Tsunami, Echizen (Fukui)

    13 December 1650Japan21 killed500 homes destroyed

  • M5.3 earthquake, Sicily: Carlentini

    13 December 1990ItalyTriggered a tsunami19 killed200 injured$500m damage

  • M6.2 earthquake, Hualien, Taipei

    13 December 1990Taiwan2 killed3 injured

  • Okataina eruption

    13 December 2013New Zealand1 killed

  • M6.3 earthquake, Hua-Lien

    13 December 1990TaiwanTriggered a tsunami

  • Earthquake, Java: Prupuk,Margarsari,Dubuktengah

    13 December 1926Indonesia

  • M7.3 earthquake, Rukwa

    13 December 1910Tanzania

  • M7.3 earthquake, N. Moluccas Islands

    13 December 1858IndonesiaTriggered a tsunami15 homes destroyed

Major events from our live records

Big earthquakes and major disasters on 13 December in recent decades.

Eruptions that began on 13 December

From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.

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