This is a list of earthquakes in 2012. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in damage or casualties, or are notable for some other reason. All dates are listed according to UTC time. Two huge 8 magnitude earthquakes (8.6 and 8.2) struck Indonesia in April, but caused little damage, and no tsunami. The deadliest quake occurred in Iran, while other destructive tremors were observed in Philippines, China, or Afghanistan.
Compared to other years
Overall
By death toll
Note: At least 10 casualties
By magnitude
Note: At least 7.0 magnitude
By month
January
February
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck near island of Efate, Vanuatu on February 2, at a depth of 23.1 km. This was later followed by a magnitude 6.0 aftershock, at a depth of 21.7 km. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck near Isangel, Vanuatu on February 5, at a depth of 163.4 km. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near island of Efate, Vanuatu on February 5, at a depth of 10.3 km. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck near island of Negros, and Cebu, Philippines on February 6, at a depth of 20 km, killing 113 people. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the island of Negros, on February 6, at a depth of 15 km. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck west coast of Quepos, on February 13, at a depth of 11 km. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck east of Honshū, on February 14, at a depth of 10 km. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck near Kirakira, on February 14, at a depth of 54.7 km. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Oregon, on February 15, at a depth of 10 km. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Chiapas on February 16. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck southwestern Siberia, Russia on February 26, at a depth of 11.7 km.
March
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off New Caledonia on the March 3, at a depth of 15.2 km. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northern Sasowa, near Añatuya, on March 5, at a depth of 550 km. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Vanuatu, near Isangel, on March 9, at a depth of 31.7 km. A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck near Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan, on March 14, at a depth of 26.6 km. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck offshore Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on March 14, at a depth of 9.5 km. One person died of a heart attack. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, near Kimbe, New Britain, on March 14, at a depth of 47.8 km. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near Abepura, Indonesia, on March 20, at a depth of 67 km. A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Oaxaca, Mexico, on March 20, at a depth of 20 km, killing 2 people. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck New Guinea, Papua New Guinea on March 21, at a depth of 105.9 km. A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Chile, near Talca, on March 25, at a depth of 34.8 km. One person died of a heart attack. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck maritime territory of Mexico, between Acapulco and Clipperton Island, on March 26, at a depth of 9 km. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit near the east coast of Honshū Japan, on March 27, at a depth of 10 km.
April
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Cuajinicuilapa, Mexico on April 2, at a depth of 9.1 km. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, near Taron, on April 6, at a depth of 85.4 km. A magnitude 8.6 earthquake hit Indonesia, off northern Sumatra, on April 11 at a depth of 22.9 km followed by several aftershocks including an 8.2. Ten people were killed and several others injured. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near the southeast coast of Taiwan on April 11 at a depth of 10 km. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit Mexico, near Michoacán, on April 11, at a depth of 20 km. A magnitude 6.2 struck Baja California, Mexico on April 12 followed by a strong aftershock of 6.9. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit Drake Passage, near Argentina and Chile, on April 14, at a depth of 9.9 km. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck near Isangel, Vanuatu, on April 14 at a depth of 8.0 km. A magnitude 6.2 struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, on April 15 at a depth of 15.2 km. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Chile, near Valparaíso, on April 17, at a depth of 37 km. One person died of a heart attack and another due to the loss of power at a local hospital. A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Papua New Guinea, about 137 km north of Lae, on April 17 at a depth of 208.2 km. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck east of the South Sandwich Islands, on April 17 at a depth of 1 km. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck near the north coast of Papua, Indonesia, on April 21 at a depth of 29.8 km. A magnitude 6.7 earthquake hit Tonga, near Neiafu, on April 28, at a depth of 129.4 km.