South Africa earthquakes in 1981
6 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or more were located in South Africa in 1981. The largest: M4.8 8 km ENE of Orkney, South Africa, Oct 8, 1981.
From the USGS catalog. Times are local to each quake.
Map
Where every quake of 1981 was located in South Africa. Select one for its page.
Every quake of 1981
Magnitude 4.5 and up, newest first.
- 4.714 km W of Kroonstad, South Africa · 33 km deep
- 4.88 km ENE of Orkney, South Africa · 26 km deep
- 4.716 km N of Carletonville, South Africa · 33 km deep
- 4.514 km WNW of Randfontein, South Africa · 33 km deep
- 4.725 km NNW of Klerksdorp, South Africa · 33 km deep
- 4.615 km NW of Randfontein, South Africa · 33 km deep
Month by month
Counted by UTC date, which is how the catalog files them.
| Month | Quakes | Largest | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1981 | 1 | 4.6 | 15 km NW of Randfontein, South Africa |
| February 1981 | 1 | 4.7 | 25 km NNW of Klerksdorp, South Africa |
| March 1981 | 0 | ||
| April 1981 | 0 | ||
| May 1981 | 1 | 4.5 | 14 km WNW of Randfontein, South Africa |
| June 1981 | 0 | ||
| July 1981 | 0 | ||
| August 1981 | 0 | ||
| September 1981 | 1 | 4.7 | 16 km N of Carletonville, South Africa |
| October 1981 | 1 | 4.8 | 8 km ENE of Orkney, South Africa |
| November 1981 | 0 | ||
| December 1981 | 1 | 4.7 | 14 km W of Kroonstad, South Africa |
What this means
The catalog is only as complete as the instruments of the time. Worldwide coverage of magnitude 5 and up dates from the 1960s, and of 4.5 from the 1990s; earlier years hold the large quakes and the ones near a station, so a low count in an early year means fewer instruments, not a quiet earth.
By year
Every year the USGS catalog covers.
- 2020s2020202120222023202420252026
- 2010s2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
- 2000s2000200120022003200420052006200720082009
- 1990s1990199119921993199419951996199719981999
- 1980s1980198119821983198419851986198719881989
- 1970s1970197119721973197419751976197719781979
- 1960s1960196119621963196419651966196719681969
- 1950s1950195119521953195419551956195719581959
- 1940s1940194119421943194419451946194719481949
- 1930s1930193119321933193419351936193719381939
- 1920s1920192119221923192419251926192719281929
- 1910s1910191119121913191419151916191719181919
- 1900s1900190119021903190419051906190719081909
Nearby
Sources
Earthquakes, magnitudes, depths, shaking estimates and felt reports from the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program, read from its live feeds and its catalog back to 1900. Tsunami messages from NOAA’s tsunami warning centers.