On this day: 19 December
Historic disasters
16
Recorded deaths
1,914
Eruptions began
12
Major events since 1900
20
Disasters on 19 December in history
Damaging earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions from the NOAA Natural Hazards database, deadliest first.
Earthquake, Dughabad,Khorasan
19 December 1618Iran800 killed
M5.9 earthquake, Bab-Tangol
19 December 1977Iran584 killed1,000 injured
Earthquake, San Vicente
19 December 1936El Salvador400 killed
M7.4 earthquake, Cotabato,N Coast of Illana Bay
19 December 1928PhilippinesTriggered a tsunami97 killed102 injured
M6.0 earthquake, N Central, Tehran
19 December 1980Iran26 killed$5m damage
M5.4 earthquake, Esmeraldas
19 December 2016Ecuador3 killed47 injured10 homes destroyed
M6.0 earthquake, Karonga
19 December 2009Malawi3 killed250 injured1,111 homes destroyed
Etna eruption (VEI 1)
19 December 1985Italy1 killed
M3.7 earthquake, Luther
19 December 2010USA
M6.4 earthquake, Hualien
19 December 2009Taiwan14 injured
M4.5 earthquake, Dhaka
19 December 2001Bangladesh100 injured
M5.0 earthquake, Central, Valparaiso
19 December 1986Chile16 homes destroyed
M7.7 earthquake, Tonga Trench
19 December 1982TongaTriggered a tsunami
M7.5 earthquake, Aegean Sea: Lesbos, Skiros
19 December 1981Greece
Earthquake, Lisbon
19 December 1847Portugal
Earthquake, Gulf of Iskenderun
19 December 803TurkeyTriggered a tsunami
Major events from our live records
Big earthquakes and major disasters on 19 December in recent decades.
- 7.4
M7.4 earthquake near Kalamansig, Soccsksargen
25 km deep
Extreme - 7.2
M7.2 earthquake - 207 km WSW of Adak, Alaska
34 km deep
Extreme - 7.2
M7.2 earthquake - south of Tonga
33 km deep
Extreme - 7.2
M7.2 earthquake near Ezine, Canakkale
10 km deep
Extreme - 7.2
M7.2 earthquake - 108 km SE of Neiafu, Tonga
35 km deep
Extreme - 6.9
M6.9 earthquake - Easter Island region
10 km deep
Major - 6.8
M6.8 earthquake - 258 km E of Kuril’sk, Russia
27 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake - Izu Islands, Japan region
20 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake near Langtoucun, Liaoning
35 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Sentani, Papua
63 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Tambolaka, East Nusa Tenggara
25 km deep
Major - 6.4
M6.4 earthquake near Hualien City, Taiwan
43 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake - southeast of Easter Island
10 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake - 82 km E of Shikotan, Russia
35 km deep
Major - 6.3
M6.3 earthquake near Minami-Sōma, Fukushima
35 km deep
Major - 6.2
M6.2 earthquake near Labasa, Northern
10 km deep
Major - 6.2
M6.2 earthquake - 166 km S of Merizo Village, Guam
33 km deep
Major - 6.2
M6.2 earthquake - Izu Islands, Japan region
82 km deep
Major - 6.1
M6.1 earthquake near Vilyuchinsk, Kamchatka
53 km deep
Major - 6.1
M6.1 earthquake near Nuku‘alofa, Tongatapu
33 km deep
Major
Eruptions that began on 19 December
From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.
- 2014Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai, TongaVEI 2
- 2002Fukutoku-Oka-no-Ba, JapanVEI 0
- 2000Suwanosejima, JapanVEI 3
- 1969Negro, Cerro, NicaraguaVEI 1
- 1960Langila, Papua New GuineaVEI 2
- 1939Dempo, IndonesiaVEI 2
- 1938Askja, IcelandVEI 2
- 1895Gamalama, IndonesiaVEI 1
- 1855Vesuvius, ItalyVEI 3
- 1821Eyjafjallajokull, IcelandVEI 2
- 1792Fournaise, Piton de la, FranceVEI 0
- 1634Etna, ItalyVEI 1