Open Earth

On this day: 18 July

The deadliest recorded disaster on 18 July was the 1979 tsunami at Lomblen Island [lembata], which killed 1,239 people.

Historic disasters

27

Recorded deaths

2,564

Eruptions began

12

Major events since 1900

20

Disasters on 18 July in history

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

  • Tsunami, Lomblen Island [lembata]

    18 July 1979IndonesiaWaves up to 9 m1,239 killed32 injured

  • Iliwerung eruption

    18 July 1979Indonesia1,239 killed32 injured

  • Earthquake, Tharrawaddy

    18 July 1930Myanmar (Burma)50 killed

  • M7.5 earthquake, S Coast Luzon: Pasig River,Pampanga

    18 July 1880PhilippinesTriggered a tsunami20 killed50 injured

  • M7.4 earthquake, Bohai Sea

    18 July 1969ChinaTriggered a tsunami10 killed353 injured15,190 homes destroyed

  • M5.2 earthquake, Paktia Province

    18 July 2004Afghanistan2 killed40 injured

  • M6.4 earthquake, Arequipa

    18 July 2017Peru1 killed1 injured

  • Tungurahua eruption (VEI 3)

    18 July 2006Ecuador1 killed

  • M5.4 earthquake, North Island: Rotorua, Tauranga

    18 July 2004New Zealand1 killed2 injured

  • M4.9 earthquake, Churuguara, Falcon, Lara

    18 July 1986Venezuela1 killed30 homes destroyed

  • M5.2 earthquake, Hawst, Paktiya

    18 July 2022Afghanistan44 injured600 homes destroyed

  • M7.0 earthquake, Solomon Islands

    18 July 2015Solomon IslandsTriggered a tsunami

  • M7.3 earthquake, New Britain

    18 July 2010Papua New GuineaTriggered a tsunami

  • M5.3 earthquake, Timor: Timor Tengah Utara

    18 July 2005Indonesia

  • M7.0 earthquake, Honshu Island

    18 July 1992JapanTriggered a tsunami

  • M5.6 earthquake, Orsava

    18 July 1991Romania

  • M5.1 earthquake, Cameli, Denizli

    18 July 1990Turkey

  • M4.9 earthquake, Dursunbey, Anatolia

    18 July 1979Turkey200 homes destroyed

  • Earthquake, Ryukyu Islands

    18 July 1961JapanTriggered a tsunami

  • M7.5 earthquake, Banda Sea

    18 July 1956Indonesia

  • M7.8 earthquake, Santa Cruz Islands

    18 July 1934Solomon IslandsTriggered a tsunami

  • M7.7 earthquake, Panama-Costa Rica

    18 July 1934PanamaTriggered a tsunami4 injured$0m damage

  • M7.0 earthquake, Peru

    18 July 1928PeruTriggered a tsunami

  • M5.5 earthquake, Butuan, Camiguin Island

    18 July 1923PhilippinesTriggered a tsunami

  • Banua Wuhu eruption (VEI 3)

    18 July 1918Indonesia

  • Tsunami, Sulawesi

    18 July 1918IndonesiaWaves up to 0.08 m

  • Gamalama eruption (VEI 3)

    18 July 1608Indonesia

Major events from our live records

Big earthquakes and major disasters on 18 July in recent decades.

Eruptions that began on 18 July

From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.

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