Open Earth

On this day: 26 May

The deadliest recorded disaster on 26 May was the 2006 magnitude 6.3 earthquake near Java: Bantul, Yogyakarta, which killed 6,234 people.

Historic disasters

28

Recorded deaths

8,726

Eruptions began

16

Major events since 1900

20

Disasters on 26 May in history

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

  • M6.3 earthquake, Java: Bantul, Yogyakarta

    26 May 2006Indonesia6,234 killed38,568 injured127,000 homes destroyed$3,100m damage

  • Earthquake, Bombay

    26 May 1618India2,000 killed

  • M6.0 earthquake, Ningxia

    26 May 1852China300 killed400 injured20,000 homes destroyed

  • M7.7 earthquake, Honshu: Akita

    26 May 1983JapanTriggered a tsunami104 killed324 injured$800m damage

  • M7.1 earthquake, Abant

    26 May 1957Turkey52 killed

  • Purace eruption (VEI 2)

    26 May 1949Colombia17 killed

  • M6.5 earthquake, Greece-Albania

    26 May 1960Greece8 killed

  • Earthquake, Coast of Liguria

    26 May 1831Italy4 killed

  • M5.4 earthquake, Azarbaijan

    26 May 1977Iran3 killed9 injured

  • M8.0 earthquake, La Libertad, Cajamarca; Ecuador

    26 May 2019Peru2 killed30 injured$50m damage

  • M7.0 earthquake, Morotai, Berebere, Daruba

    26 May 2003Indonesia1 killed7 injured28 homes destroyed

  • M4.5 earthquake, Kalimantan: Ranau

    26 May 1991Malaysia1 killed

  • M7.2 earthquake, Puno

    26 May 2022Peru2 homes destroyed

  • M5.6 earthquake, Panama-Costa Rica

    26 May 2008Costa Rica

  • M7.0 earthquake, Honshu: Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata, Akita

    26 May 2003Japan143 injured$233m damage

  • M5.6 earthquake, Preveza

    26 May 2000Greece

  • Tsunami, Ionian Sea

    26 May 2000Greece

  • M7.8 earthquake, Maderia Islands

    26 May 1975Atlantic OceanTriggered a tsunami

  • M7.9 earthquake, Kermadec Islands

    26 May 1932Kermadec Islands (New Zealand)

  • M7.0 earthquake, Queen Charlotte Islands

    26 May 1929CanadaTriggered a tsunami

  • M8.1 earthquake, New Guinea: Irian Jaya: Japen

    26 May 1914IndonesiaTriggered a tsunami

  • M7.2 earthquake, Copiapo

    26 May 1851ChileTriggered a tsunami

  • Tsunami, San Remo

    26 May 1831Italy

  • M6.4 earthquake, Amakusa Islands

    26 May 1828JapanTriggered a tsunami

  • Earthquake, Italy

    26 May 1819Italy

  • Earthquake, Firenze (Florence)

    26 May 1798Italy

  • Tsunami, Bergen

    26 May 1762Norway

  • M7.5 earthquake, Spain; Algeria; Morocco

    26 May 881SpainTriggered a tsunami

Major events from our live records

Big earthquakes and major disasters on 26 May in recent decades.

Eruptions that began on 26 May

From the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program eruption record.

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