Significant earthquakes of 1968

February 19, 1968 Earthquake: St Eustratios, Aegean Sea, Greece

February 19, 1968 · M7.2 · 22 deaths · $600,000 · 500 houses destroyed

A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck St Eustratios, Aegean Sea, Greece on February 19, 1968 at 22:45:45 UTC, 15 km below the surface. It killed 22 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
February 19, 1968
Time
22:45:45 UTC
Place
St Eustratios, Aegean Sea, Greece
Magnitude
7.2 (Mw)
Focal depth
15 km (9 mi)
Intensity
10 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Epicenter
39.368° N, 24.957° E
Country
Greece

The toll

Deaths
22
Injuries
18
Damage
$600,000
Houses destroyed
500
Houses damaged
1,951

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.

1968, February 19. Aegean Sea. Cape Tripiti, at the southern end of St. Eustratios Island, sustained 20 fatalities and several injuries. Over 500 houses were leveled and 1,951 damaged. Property damage was estimated at $600,000. Moderate property damage was also sustained on nearby Lemnos Island. (reference #45)

1968, February 19, 22:45:45.68. 39.368 N, 24.957 E, depth 15 km, 7.2 Mw. (reference #10476)

1968, February 19, 22:45:43.65 UTC. 39.372 N, 24.946 E, depth 8.1 km, 7.2 Mw P&S, 7.5 Ms ABE1, 7.5 Ms P&S, 7.1 mB ABE1, 6 mb ISC, 7.8 UK BCIS. (reference #9910)

1968, February 20. Greece, 19 killed 18 injured, $0.6 million damage. (reference #1250)

Ayios Efstratios Isl., North Aegean Sea, Greece, 19 February 1968. This large earthquake (Mw6.96) was associated with strike-slip faulting and ruptured the north Aegean Sea. It caused destruction and a death toll of 22 on the small island of Ayios Efstratios. (reference #13999)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1968The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1968Recent 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 4428.