Open Earth

On this day: 12 March

The deadliest recorded disaster on 12 March was the 1595 eruption of Ruiz, Nevado del, which killed 636 people.

Historic disasters

14

Recorded deaths

652

Eruptions began

10

Major events since 1900

20

Disasters on 12 March in history

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

  • Ruiz, Nevado del eruption (VEI 4)

    12 March 1595Colombia636 killed

  • M8.0 earthquake, Taiwan

    12 March 1966TaiwanTriggered a tsunami7 killed10 injured

  • M6.4 earthquake, Futuna Island

    12 March 1993Wallis and Futuna (French Territory)Triggered a tsunami5 killed20 injured

  • Guagua Pichincha eruption (VEI 1)

    12 March 1993Ecuador2 killed

  • M6.6 earthquake, Utah

    12 March 1934USA2 killed

  • M5.6 earthquake, Cat, Karliova

    12 March 2005Turkey16 injured

  • Tsunami, New Caledonia

    12 March 1997New CaledoniaWaves up to 2 m

  • M6.5 earthquake, Banda Sea

    12 March 1983IndonesiaTriggered a tsunami

  • M6.8 earthquake, Costa Rica-Panama

    12 March 1962PanamaTriggered a tsunami

  • Earthquake, Kazerun

    12 March 1946Iran

  • M6.7 earthquake, Choshi

    12 March 1909JapanTriggered a tsunami

  • Tsunami, S. Mexico

    12 March 1883Mexico

  • Earthquake, Northern

    12 March 1878ChileTriggered a tsunami

  • Earthquake, Cicilia

    12 March 1036TurkeyTriggered a tsunami

Major events from our live records

Big earthquakes and major disasters on 12 March in recent decades.

Eruptions that began on 12 March

From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.

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