Significant earthquakes of 1966

August 19, 1966 Earthquake: Varto, Turkey

August 19, 1966 · M6.8 · 2,394 deaths · $20 million

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Varto, Turkey on August 19, 1966 at 12:22:12 UTC, 24 km below the surface. It killed 2,394 people.

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 19, 1966
Time
12:22:12 UTC
Place
Varto, Turkey
Magnitude
6.8 (Mw)
Focal depth
24 km (15 mi)
Intensity
9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
39.235° N, 41.572° E
Country
Turkey

The toll

Deaths
2,394
Damage
$20 million

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Reference #1138 lists 2520 deaths

Reference #1250 lists 2394 deaths, 1500 injured, 20 million USD total damage

Reference #10476 (v 9.1) lists 1966 August 19 12:22:12.72 UTC, 39.235 N 41.572 E, magnitude 6.8 Mw, depth 24.7

Reference #45:

This was the third damaging earthquake to strike Turkey during the year. It was also the most destructive, as evidenced by the 2,529 fatalities, 1,500 injuries, and 108,000 persons homeless. Twenty or more villages were completely razed in the provinces of Bingol, Erzurum, and Mus. At Varto, which was almost destroyed, 500 deaths were reported. Near Varto, surface fracturing occurred and many landslides developed. One landslide near Tepekoy measured 150 by 250 meters in area.

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1966The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1966Recent 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 4376.