Significant earthquakes of 1917

January 30, 1917 Earthquake: Kamchatka, Russia

January 30, 1917 · M7.8

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia on January 30, 1917 at 02:45:36 UTC, 40 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date
January 30, 1917
Time
02:45:36 UTC
Place
Kamchatka, Russia
Magnitude
7.8 (Ms)
Focal depth
40 km (25 mi)
Epicenter
56.500° N, 163.000° E
Country
Russia

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

January 30, 1917, 02:45:36 UTC, 56.5 N, 163 E, magnitude 8.1, shallow depth. (reference #88)

January 30, 1917, 02:45.6 UTC, 56.5 N, 163 E, magnitude 7.75. (reference #130)

January 30, 1917, magnitude 8.1, in Kamchatka. (reference #1002)

January 30, 1917, 02:45:30 UTC, 55.2 N, 164.5 E, magnitude 8.1, depth 40 km, possible tsunami. (reference #223)

January 30, 1917, 02:45.6 UTC, 56.5 N, 163 E, magnitude 7.75 MS. (reference #1092)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1917The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1917Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 3076.