June 15, 1991 Earthquake: Dzhava, Tskhinvali, Ossetia, Georgia
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Dzhava, Tskhinvali, Ossetia, Georgia on June 15, 1991 at 00:59:20 UTC, 9 km below the surface. It killed 8 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
- June 15, 1991
- Time
- 00:59:20 UTC
- Place
- Dzhava, Tskhinvali, Ossetia, Georgia
- Magnitude
- 6.1 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 9 km (6 mi)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 42.461° N, 44.009° E
- Country
- Georgia
The toll
- Deaths
- 8
- Injuries
- 200
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 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.
1991, June 15. At least 8 people killed, 200 injured
and extensive damage (VIII) in the Dzhava-Tskhinvali area, USSR. Felt (VI) at Kutaisi, Sukhumi and Tbilisi and (V) in northwestern Azerbaijan. Landslides occurred at Khieti. (reference #1053)
8 deaths, 3,740 people affected. (reference #1250)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 7, 1988, Leninakan, Spitak, Kirovakan, Armenia
- October 22, 1926, Turkey, Armenia
- April 29, 1991, Dzhava, Chiatura, Ambrolauri, Georgia
- December 31, 1899, Turkey
- January 9, 1925, Ardahan, Turkey
- May 7, 1940, Turkey-Cis
- April 25, 2002, Tbilisi, Georgia
- April 29, 1976, Turkey
- May 13, 1986, Akhalkalaki, Susuz, Georgia
- March 25, 1976, Turkey
- August 3, 1989, Groznyy, Buynaksk, Russia
- April 14, 1275, Georgia
- September 6, 2009, Northwestern, Georgia
- February 20, 1920, Gori, Tiflis, Caucasus, Georgia
- May 15, 1991, Khekheti, Georgia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1991The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1991Recent 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 5291.