September 30, 1998 Earthquake: Kukes, Peshkopi, Albania
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Kukes, Peshkopi, Albania on September 30, 1998 at 23:42:54 UTC, 10 km below the surface.
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
- September 30, 1998
- Time
- 23:42:54 UTC
- Place
- Kukes, Peshkopi, Albania
- Magnitude
- 5.3 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 41.925° N, 20.390° E
- Country
- Albania
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 700
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.
1998, Sept 30. At least 700 houses damaged or destroyed and an electric substation damaged in the Kukes District. Felt at Elbasan, Korce, Peshkopi, Pogradec and Tirana. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- October 12, 1851, Vlore (Valona),berat, Turkey, Albania
- July 26, 1963, Skopje, Macedonia, Balkans NW, North Macedonia
- October 17, 1851, Berat, Albania
- November 26, 1920, Tepelene, Dragoti, Peshtani, Maricaj, Albania
- April 15, 1979, Montenegro, Balkans NW
- June 1, 1905, Shkoder, Albania
- January 28, 1931, Korce, Albania
- January 2, 1866, Narta, Vlore, Kanina, Albania
- November 26, 2019, Durres, Thumane, Tirana, Albania
- August 27, 1942, Peshkopia, Magellare, Albania
- November 21, 1930, Vlore, Himare, Kuc, Albania
- December 2, 1930, Vlore, Tepelene, Albania
- November 30, 1967, Albania
- March 18, 1962, Albania
- February 25, 1983, Skopje, Macedonia, Balkans NW, North Macedonia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1998The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1998Recent 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 5506.