August 22, 1949 Earthquake: Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada on August 22, 1949 at 04:01:12 UTC, 25 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
- August 22, 1949
- Time
- 04:01:12 UTC
- Place
- Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada
- Magnitude
- 8.1 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 25 km (16 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 53.620° N, 133.270° W
- Country
- Canada
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.
1949, August 21, 20:03 local time (August 22, 4:03 UTC). There was a strong earthquake with source in the region of the Queen Charlotte Islands. It was felt from Portland to the south of Alaska. The epicentral zone has not been examined. From fortuitous data, it is known that a great many collapses and slides took place, cracks were formed in the ground, it was impossible to stand, many trees were broken or uprooted and material damage was done (Reference #415).
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 1949The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1949Recent 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 3921.