On this day: 20 December

The deadliest recorded disaster on 20 December was the 1946 magnitude 8.3 earthquake near Honshu: S Coast, which killed 1,362 people.

Historic disasters

Recorded deaths

3,397

Eruptions began

Major events since 1900

Disasters on 20 December in history

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

M8.3 earthquake, Honshu: S Coast
20 December 1946JapanTriggered a tsunami1,362 killed11,661 homes destroyed
M7.0 earthquake, Niksar, Erbaa
20 December 1942Turkey1,000 killed
M6.7 earthquake, Seionaikai, Japan
20 December 1711JapanTriggered a tsunami1,000 killed1,713 homes destroyed
M6.8 earthquake, Eje Cafetero
20 December 1961Colombia23 killed100 injured
M6.5 earthquake, Kerman
20 December 2010Iran7 killed25 injured
M6.4 earthquake, Humboldt County
20 December 2022USA2 killed17 injured150 homes destroyed$250m damage
M4.9 earthquake, Alborz
20 December 2017Iran2 killed117 injured
M6.6 earthquake, Off Coast North Island
20 December 2007New Zealand1 killed3 homes destroyed
M5.0 earthquake, Sudurpashchim Province
20 December 2024Nepal108 homes destroyed
M7.3 earthquake, Off Kamchatka
20 December 2018RussiaTriggered a tsunami
M5.7 earthquake, Central: Yeniyapan, Abazlar, Suyuguzel
20 December 2007Turkey
M5.4 earthquake, Marmaris
20 December 2004Turkey3 injured
M5.0 earthquake, S Mamasani, Shiraz, Norabad
20 December 1986Iran80 homes destroyed
M7.2 earthquake, Cedar Mountain
20 December 1932USA
M7.2 earthquake, Bocas del Toro
20 December 1904PanamaTriggered a tsunami
Earthquake, Chaman,Baluchistan
20 December 1892Pakistan
Tsunami, Southeast Australia
20 December 1869Australia
Tsunami, Port Townsend, Wa
20 December 1866USA
M6.5 earthquake, Guatemala; el Salvador
20 December 1862Guatemala
Tsunami, W. Izu Penin., Japan
20 December 1816Japan
Earthquake, Switzerland
20 December 1720Switzerland

Big earthquakes and major disasters on 20 December in recent decades.

From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.