On this day: 17 December
Historic disasters
27
Recorded deaths
4,946
Eruptions began
7
Major events since 1900
20
Disasters on 17 December in history
Damaging earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions from the NOAA Natural Hazards database, deadliest first.
Tsunami, Bay of Naples
17 December 1631ItalyWaves up to 5 m4,000 killed
M6.7 earthquake, Mendoza
17 December 1920Argentina400 killed
M8.4 earthquake, Enshunada
17 December 1096JapanTriggered a tsunami400 killed
M6.8 earthquake, Xinjiang
17 December 1893China90 killed32 injured556 homes destroyed
M6.3 earthquake, Sumbawa Island: Bali, Lombok
17 December 1979Indonesia27 killed200 injured
M7.3 earthquake, Efate, Port Vila
17 December 2024VanuatuTriggered a tsunami14 killed265 injured$100m damage
M5.8 earthquake, Sumatera: Northern, Muarasipongi
17 December 2006Indonesia7 killed100 injured680 homes destroyed
M7.8 earthquake, Tierra del Fuego
17 December 1949ChileTriggered a tsunami3 killed
M6.6 earthquake, Cocotitlan
17 December 2015Mexico2 killed
M6.0 earthquake, Honshu: Chiba Perfecture, Tokyo
17 December 1987Japan2 killed66 injured$5m damage
M7.8 earthquake, Tierra del Fuego
17 December 1949ChileTriggered a tsunami1 killed
Tsunami, Whitehorse, Yukon
17 December 2024CanadaWaves up to 2.5 m
M7.9 earthquake, New Britain New Ireland
17 December 2016Papua New GuineaTriggered a tsunami
M4.9 earthquake, Honshu: Ito
17 December 2009Japan7 injured
M4.4 earthquake, Povadiya
17 December 2003Bulgaria10 homes destroyed
M4.2 earthquake, Sasquisili, Pujili, Latacunga
17 December 1969Ecuador
M5.5 earthquake, Ningxia
17 December 1962China
M7.8 earthquake, Santa Cruz Islands
17 December 1957Solomon Islands
M7.8 earthquake, Aleutian Islands: Near Islands
17 December 1929USA
M5.8 earthquake, Durres
17 December 1926Albania
Tsunami, Santa Barbara, Ca
17 December 1896USAWaves up to 2.5 m
Earthquake, Sulawesi: Manado, Belang
17 December 1859IndonesiaTriggered a tsunami
Earthquake, Chile
17 December 1843Chile
Tsunami, Aigeus-Mortes
17 December 1798France
Earthquake, Croatia: Rijeka (Fiume)
17 December 1750CroatiaTriggered a tsunami
M7.5 earthquake, Kuril Islands
17 December 1737RussiaTriggered a tsunami
M6.4 earthquake, Boso, Japan
17 December 1670JapanTriggered a tsunami
Major events from our live records
Big earthquakes and major disasters on 17 December in recent decades.
- 7.9
M7.9 earthquake near Kokopo, East New Britain Province
95 km deep Tsunami flag
Extreme - 7.9
M7.9 earthquake - 93 km NW of Attu Station, Alaska
20 km deep
Extreme - 7.8
M7.8 earthquake - 186 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu
124 km deep
Extreme - 7.7
M7.7 earthquake near Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
10 km deep
Extreme - 7.6
M7.6 earthquake near Punta Arenas, Region of Magallanes
10 km deep
Extreme - 7.3
M7.3 earthquake near Port-Vila, Shefa
54 km deep Tsunami flag
Extreme - 7.0
M7.0 earthquake - southeast of Taiwan
15 km deep
Extreme - 7.0
M7.0 earthquake - Revilla Gigedo Islands region
10 km deep
Extreme - 6.8
M6.8 earthquake - 212 km SW of Port McNeill, Canada
10 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake near Mobara, Chiba
63 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake - 225 km ENE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia
26 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake near Pocito, San Juan
15 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake near Tonalá, Chiapas
85 km deep Tsunami flag
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake - Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
20 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake near Taitung, Taiwan
15 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Yilan, Taiwan
87 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Rethymno, Crete
25 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Wensu, Xinjiang
20 km deep
Major - 6.4
M6.4 earthquake near Khovd, Hovd
10 km deep
Major - 6.4
M6.4 earthquake - 116 km SE of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea
15 km deep
Major
Eruptions that began on 17 December
From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.
- 2025Home Reef, TongaVEI 0
- 2009Bezymianny, RussiaVEI 3
- 1993Lascar, ChileVEI 2
- 1963Lokon-Empung, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1939Lewotobi, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1907Marapi, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1868Mayon, PhilippinesVEI 2