February 25, 1983 Earthquake: Skopje, Macedonia, Balkans NW, North Macedonia
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck Skopje, Macedonia, Balkans NW, North Macedonia on February 25, 1983 at 18:22:12 UTC, 24 km below the surface. It killed 12 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 25, 1983
- Time
- 18:22:12 UTC
- Place
- Skopje, Macedonia, Balkans NW, North Macedonia
- Magnitude
- 4.7 (mb)
- Focal depth
- 24 km (15 mi)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 41.959° N, 21.540° E
- Country
- North Macedonia
The toll
- Deaths
- 12
- Damage
- $500,000
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.
Twelve people died from heart attacks in the Skopje area. Felt (VI) at Skopje. Slight damage near Dolno Kolicani. (reference #1053)
12 killed, $500,000 damage. (reference #1250)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- July 26, 1963, Skopje, Macedonia, Balkans NW, North Macedonia
- April 15, 1979, Montenegro, Balkans NW
- June 1, 1905, Shkoder, Albania
- January 28, 1931, Korce, Albania
- November 26, 2019, Durres, Thumane, Tirana, Albania
- June 20, 1978, Thessaloniki, Greece
- August 27, 1942, Peshkopia, Magellare, Albania
- November 30, 1967, Albania
- July 5, 1902, Thessaloniki, Greece
- September 1, 1959, Albania
- April 24, 2002, N, Kosovo, Macedonia, Balkans NW, Serbia
- December 21, 1990, Edhessa, Kilkis, Greece
- January 13, 2024, Lushnje, Albania
- November 3, 1968, Montenegro, Balkans NW
- September 11, 2016, Macedonia, Balkans NW, North Macedonia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1983The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1983Recent 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 4963.