On this day: 14 December
Historic disasters
17
Recorded deaths
16,879
Eruptions began
12
Major events since 1900
20
Disasters on 14 December in history
Damaging earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions from the NOAA Natural Hazards database, deadliest first.
Earthquake, Cumana, Cariaco
14 December 1797Venezuela16,000 killed
M5.5 earthquake, Bajestan
14 December 1925Iran500 killed
M6.2 earthquake, Ipiales
14 December 1923Colombia300 killed
M6.1 earthquake, Masjed-E-Soleyman
14 December 1978Iran76 killed
M5.5 earthquake, Gansu Province: Yumne
14 December 2002China2 killed13,380 homes destroyed
M5.3 earthquake, Jausari, Chamoli, Nandprayag
14 December 2005India1 killed4 injured1 homes destroyed
M7.3 earthquake, Flores Region
14 December 2021IndonesiaTriggered a tsunami98 injured470 homes destroyed
M5.8 earthquake, Hokkaido: Obiro, Haboro, Tomamae
14 December 2004Japan3 injured
Tsunami, Kamchatka
14 December 1997RussiaWaves up to 8 m
Etna eruption (VEI 2)
14 December 1991Italy$3m damage
M7.5 earthquake, Acapulco
14 December 1950MexicoTriggered a tsunami
M7.7 earthquake, Tonga Islands
14 December 1950Tonga
M7.3 earthquake, Tuxtla Gutierrez; Guatemala
14 December 1935Mexico
M7.8 earthquake, Luzon
14 December 1901Philippines
Earthquake, Banda Atjeh
14 December 1885IndonesiaTriggered a tsunami
M6.0 earthquake, Eglouvi
14 December 1885Greece
M7.0 earthquake, Turkey
14 December 558TurkeyTriggered a tsunami
Major events from our live records
Big earthquakes and major disasters on 14 December in recent decades.
- 7.8
M7.8 earthquake - 159 km W of Pangai, Tonga
216 km deep
Extreme - 7.3
M7.3 earthquake near Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara
14 km deep Tsunami flag
Extreme - 7.3
M7.3 earthquake near Tapachula, Chiapas
35 km deep
Extreme - 7.2
M7.2 earthquake - 280 km WNW of Houma, Tonga
440 km deep
Extreme - 7.1
M7.1 earthquake near Bulolo, Morobe Province
135 km deep
Extreme - 7.1
M7.1 earthquake near Ometepec, Guerrero
35 km deep
Extreme - 7.0
M7.0 earthquake - South Sandwich Islands region
25 km deep
Extreme - 7.0
M7.0 earthquake near Atimonan, Calabarzon
Extreme - 6.8
M6.8 earthquake near George Town, George Town
10 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake - Bouvet Island region
10 km deep
Major - 6.4
M6.4 earthquake near Coalcomán de Vázquez Pallares, Michoacán
30 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
73 km deep Tsunami flag
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake - 279 km SSW of Avalon, California
13 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake near Tahuna, North Sulawesi
22 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake near Amami, Kagoshima
41 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake near Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province
65 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake near Tahuna, North Sulawesi
65 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake - 94 km SSE of Nikolski, Alaska
24 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake near Ibarra, Imbabura
10 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake - 251 km SE of Attu Station, Alaska
35 km deep
Major
Eruptions that began on 14 December
From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.
- 2012Tungurahua, EcuadorVEI 3
- 2006Soputan, IndonesiaVEI 1
- 1989Redoubt, United StatesVEI 3
- 1963Kavachi, Solomon IslandsVEI 2
- 1959Whakaari/White Island, New ZealandVEI 2
- 1907Tengger Caldera, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1892Vulcano, ItalyVEI 0
- 1867San Miguel, El SalvadorVEI 2
- 1859Raung, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1854Vesuvius, ItalyVEI 3
- 1751Villarrica, ChileVEI 1
- 1583Asosan, JapanVEI 2