On this day: 2 December
Historic disasters
23
Recorded deaths
5,934
Eruptions began
9
Major events since 1900
20
Disasters on 2 December in history
Damaging earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions from the NOAA Natural Hazards database, deadliest first.
M8.1 earthquake, Sanriku
2 December 1611JapanTriggered a tsunami5,000 killed
Earthquake, Java: Wonosobo
2 December 1924Indonesia727 killed
M6.4 earthquake, Zurbatiyah, Badrah, Tursaq, Baghdad
2 December 1864Iraq100 killed100 homes destroyed
Earthquake, Pararca,Paysa,Colta,Oyala
2 December 1914Peru34 killed
Earthquake, Alicante
2 December 1620Spain30 killed380 homes destroyed
M5.0 earthquake, Vlore, Tepelene
2 December 1930Albania25 killed
M5.8 earthquake, Hebei Province
2 December 1882China11 killed
Earthquake, Corum
2 December 1942Turkey4 killed
M7.6 earthquake, Mindanao: E
2 December 2023PhilippinesTriggered a tsunami3 killed79 injured390 homes destroyed$23m damage
Tsunami, North Island
2 December 2025New ZealandWaves up to 0.25 m
M5.8 earthquake, Mayaro
2 December 2004Trinidad and Tobago
M5.7 earthquake, Megalopolis, Vartholomion
2 December 2002Greece17 injured8 homes destroyed
M6.7 earthquake, Kyushu
2 December 1996JapanTriggered a tsunami
M5.5 earthquake, Voiteg, Deta, Banloc
2 December 1991Romania
M5.6 earthquake, Sarchahan,Saadatabad,Gahkom,Siruiyeh
2 December 1974Iran
M7.4 earthquake, Mindanao, Davao
2 December 1972PhilippinesTriggered a tsunami
M5.7 earthquake, Hebei Province: Shulu
2 December 1967China
Tsunami, Barbados
2 December 1952Barbados
Tsunami, Puerto Rico
2 December 1951USA Territory
Tsunami, Barbados
2 December 1951Barbados
M7.8 earthquake, Vanuatu Islands
2 December 1950VanuatuTriggered a tsunami
M7.5 earthquake, Near Kamchatka
2 December 1790Russia
Earthquake, Turkey
2 December 362Turkey
Major events from our live records
Big earthquakes and major disasters on 2 December in recent decades.
- 8.0
M8.0 earthquake near Mati, Davao Region
51 km deep
Extreme - 7.9
M7.9 earthquake near Port-Vila, Shefa
30 km deep
Extreme - 7.6
M7.6 earthquake near Hinatuan, Caraga
40 km deep Tsunami flag
Extreme - 7.3
M7.3 earthquake near Antofagasta, Antofagasta
35 km deep
Extreme - 7.2
M7.2 earthquake near Cauquenes, Maule Region
30 km deep
Extreme - 7.1
M7.1 earthquake - northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge
10 km deep
Extreme - 7.0
M7.0 earthquake near Retalhuleu, Retalhuleu
67 km deep
Extreme - 7.0
M7.0 earthquake - 181 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands
30 km deep
Extreme - 6.8
M6.8 earthquake near Taitung, Taiwan
15 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake near Miyazaki, Miyazaki
49 km deep
Major - 6.7
M6.7 earthquake - 199 km ESE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands
15 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake near Al-Barka, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
614 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake near Kimbe, West New Britain Province
33 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake - 134 km SE of Kuril’sk, Russia
18 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake - east of the Kuril Islands
16 km deep
Major - 6.6
M6.6 earthquake near Jayapura, Papua
25 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Ishinomaki, Miyagi
29 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Hanamaki, Iwate
124 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake - Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
10 km deep
Major - 6.5
M6.5 earthquake near Miaoli, Taiwan
35 km deep
Major
Eruptions that began on 2 December
From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.
- 2014Villarrica, ChileVEI 3
- 1985Nishinoshima, JapanVEI 0
- 1985Concepcion, NicaraguaVEI 1
- 1976San Miguel, El SalvadorVEI 1
- 1960San Pedro-San PabloVEI 2
- 1960Guallatiri, ChileVEI 2
- 1949Etna, ItalyVEI 2
- 1933Mauna Loa, United StatesVEI 0
- 1906Kilauea, United StatesVEI 0