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Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2007

14,343 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2007, including 196 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M8.4.

14,343
M4+ events
196
Significant M6+
M8.4
Strongest
77 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2007 logged 14,343 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 196 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 8.4.

14,343
M4+ events worldwide
196
major M6+ events
M8.4
strongest of the year
77 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Apr with 32 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

Magnitude breakdown - 2007

How 2007's 14,343 catalogued M4+ earthquakes split across the magnitude scale

Value

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 196 events in 2007 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Source USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat) As of 2007

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2007.

Jan

15

Feb

9

Mar

14

Apr

32

May

10

Jun

7

Jul

16

Aug

20

Sep

27

Oct

14

Nov

18

Dec

14

Significant earthquakes in 2007 (196)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2007, strongest impact first.

Mag Location Depth
8.4 122 km SW of Bengkulu, Indonesia 34.0 km
8.1 2007 Solomon Islands Earthquake 24.0 km
8.1 2007 Kuril Islands Earthquake 10.0 km
8.0 41 km SW of San Vicente de Cañete, Peru 39.0 km
7.9 87 km SW of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia 35.0 km
7.8 south of the Fiji Islands 152.5 km
7.7 36 km ESE of Tocopilla, Chile 40.0 km
7.5 35 km NNE of Rengasdengklok, Indonesia 280.0 km
7.5 126 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia 22.0 km
7.5 Volcano Islands, Japan region 260.0 km
7.4 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 10.0 km
7.4 18 km WNW of Basse-Pointe, Martinique 156.0 km
7.2 97 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 35.0 km
7.2 56 km E of Luganville, Vanuatu 120.0 km
7.2 Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands 207.0 km
7.2 207 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 34.0 km
7.1 119 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu 34.0 km
7.0 153 km SSW of Padang, Indonesia 22.0 km
6.9 140 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia 25.0 km
6.9 west of Macquarie Island 11.0 km
6.9 134 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu 35.0 km
6.9 113 km SSE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.9 south of the Mariana Islands 14.0 km
6.8 154 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 40.0 km
6.8 30 km E of Macas, Ecuador 122.9 km
6.8 107 km N of Lae, Papua New Guinea 53.0 km
6.8 138 km W of Bengkulu, Indonesia 21.0 km
6.8 39 km WNW of Timbiquí, Colombia 15.0 km
6.8 82 km NNE of Antofagasta, Chile 26.0 km
6.8 70 km N of Te Anau, New Zealand 18.0 km
6.8 133 km WNW of Mikuni, Japan 350.4 km
6.7 46 km NW of Nanao, Japan 8.0 km
6.7 206 km SSW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 18.0 km
6.7 118 km SSW of Padang, Indonesia 30.0 km
6.7 206 km SSW of Sofifi, Indonesia 12.0 km
6.7 239 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 21.0 km
6.7 80 km NNE of Antofagasta, Chile 45.0 km
6.7 43 km SSE of Iztapa, Guatemala 23.0 km
6.6 20 km NNW of Kashiwazaki, Japan 12.0 km
6.6 north of Macquarie Island 10.0 km
6.6 46 km SSE of Gisborne, New Zealand 20.0 km
6.6 60 km SSE of Kirakira, Solomon Islands 16.0 km
6.6 south of the Fiji Islands 509.3 km
6.6 99 km SSE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.6 Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands 20.0 km
6.6 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 18.0 km
6.5 161 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia 10.0 km
6.5 central Mid-Atlantic Ridge 6.0 km
6.5 28 km NNW of Dompu, Indonesia 20.0 km
6.5 34 km N of Dompu, Indonesia 18.0 km
6.5 south of the Fiji Islands 509.4 km
6.5 203 km SE of Levuka, Fiji 676.4 km
6.5 Kepulauan Mentawai region, Indonesia 28.9 km
6.5 southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 km
6.5 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 34.0 km
6.5 129 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu 10.0 km
6.5 184 km SSW of Adak, Alaska 9.0 km
6.5 31 km WSW of Malango, Solomon Islands 15.0 km
6.4 24 km SE of Bukittinggi, Indonesia 19.0 km
6.4 219 km SSE of Amahai, Indonesia 10.0 km
6.4 46 km WSW of Santiago, Peru 23.4 km
6.4 214 km WSW of Tual, Indonesia 57.0 km
6.4 89 km NE of Ozernovskiy, Russia 116.0 km
6.4 125 km WSW of Bengkulu, Indonesia 23.0 km
6.4 54 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands 17.0 km
6.4 west of Macquarie Island 10.0 km
6.4 86 km NNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu 55.0 km
6.4 60 km SE of Nikolski, Alaska 25.0 km
6.4 135 km E of Pondaguitan, Philippines 8.0 km
6.4 19 km WSW of La Quiaca, Argentina 289.5 km
6.3 Fiji region 558.3 km
6.3 86 km N of Antofagasta, Chile 27.0 km
6.3 West Chile Rise 10.0 km
6.3 158 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia 12.0 km
6.3 115 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands 36.7 km
6.3 109 km S of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea 9.0 km
6.3 102 km N of Hirara, Japan 9.0 km
6.3 Fiji region 406.8 km
6.3 202 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines 26.0 km
6.3 central Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 km
6.3 26 km SE of Bukittinggi, Indonesia 11.0 km
6.3 171 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 25.0 km
6.3 72 km SSE of King Cove, Alaska 32.0 km
6.3 63 km WSW of Pimentel, Peru 23.0 km
6.3 74 km SE of Povoação, Portugal 14.0 km
6.3 40 km NE of Ban Houakhoua, Laos 9.0 km
6.2 175 km W of Abepura, Indonesia 20.0 km
6.2 147 km SSW of Lotofag?, Samoa 17.0 km
6.2 Kermadec Islands region 416.7 km
6.2 183 km ENE of Kuril’sk, Russia 94.0 km
6.2 52 km NNW of Antofagasta, Chile 16.0 km
6.2 off the west coast of northern Sumatra 35.0 km
6.2 124 km SSW of Isangel, Vanuatu 12.0 km
6.2 66 km SE of Yilan, Taiwan 53.0 km
6.2 South Sandwich Islands region 10.0 km
6.2 20 km WSW of Yablochnyy, Russia 5.0 km
6.2 82 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 18.0 km
6.2 east of the South Sandwich Islands 10.0 km
6.2 South Sandwich Islands region 10.0 km
6.2 18 km N of Puerto Aysén, Chile 36.7 km
6.2 108 km SE of Gizo, Solomon Islands 14.0 km
6.2 130 km WNW of Santa Genoveva de Docordó, Colombia 7.0 km
6.2 119 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia 23.0 km
6.2 152 km SSW of Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 4.7 km
6.2 Carlsberg Ridge 8.0 km
6.2 134 km NE of Tadine, New Caledonia 13.0 km
6.2 north of Ascension Island 11.0 km
6.2 southern East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.2 north of Ascension Island 7.0 km
6.2 southern East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.2 230 km W of Adak, Alaska 117.0 km
6.2 135 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia 35.0 km
6.2 108 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica 10.0 km
6.2 47 km SSW of Jurm, Afghanistan 222.1 km
6.1 74 km SE of Nikolski, Alaska 15.0 km
6.1 149 km ENE of Norsup, Vanuatu 8.0 km
6.1 81 km N of Antofagasta, Chile 15.0 km
6.1 Mariana Islands region 20.0 km
6.1 central East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.1 64 km SE of Sinabang, Indonesia 23.0 km
6.1 55 km W of Tarauacá, Brazil 644.9 km
6.1 south of the Fiji Islands 10.0 km
6.1 6 km N of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico 113.0 km
6.1 206 km SE of Levuka, Fiji 688.0 km
6.1 Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 km
6.1 72 km NNW of Te Anau, New Zealand 19.0 km
6.1 133 km SW of Padang, Indonesia 26.0 km
6.1 western Xizang 9.0 km
6.1 103 km NNW of Hirara, Japan 10.0 km
6.1 southern East Pacific Rise 10.0 km
6.1 west of Macquarie Island 10.0 km
6.1 117 km WNW of Gizo, Solomon Islands 8.0 km
6.1 east of the Kuril Islands 20.0 km
6.1 east of the South Sandwich Islands 10.0 km
6.1 119 km SSE of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea 407.4 km
6.1 153 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia 9.0 km
6.1 76 km W of Sola, Vanuatu 40.7 km
6.1 119 km NNE of Jinghong, China 5.0 km
6.1 54 km WSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 132.5 km
6.1 89 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia 30.0 km
6.1 Off the coast of Aisen, Chile 10.0 km
6.1 137 km NNW of Neiafu, Tonga 127.4 km
6.1 64 km E of Ishinomaki, Japan 48.4 km
6.1 155 km S of Gizo, Solomon Islands 24.3 km
6.1 south of the Fiji Islands 10.0 km
6.1 140 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia 37.0 km
6.1 200 km S of Sofifi, Indonesia 24.0 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 11.0 km
6.1 42 km NNW of Pamanukan, Indonesia 291.2 km
6.1 117 km NW of Gizo, Solomon Islands 34.0 km
6.1 21 km WNW of Puerto Chacabuco, Chile 4.9 km
6.1 273 km SE of Isangel, Vanuatu 10.0 km
6.1 Nicobar Islands, India region 15.0 km
6.1 52 km NNE of Pucallpa, Peru 152.1 km
6.1 62 km SE of Caburan, Philippines 24.0 km
6.1 Izu Islands, Japan region 139.6 km
6.1 82 km SE of Senhora do Rosário, Portugal 8.0 km
6.1 100 km SW of Topolobampo, Mexico 9.0 km
6.0 68 km SSE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 52.6 km
6.0 79 km W of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 46.3 km
6.0 Pacific-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 km
6.0 86 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea 39.0 km
6.0 7 km NNW of Paracas, Peru 30.0 km
6.0 46 km S of Paracas, Peru 35.0 km
6.0 Vanuatu region 10.0 km
6.0 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 40.7 km
6.0 121 km NNE of Lospalos, Timor Leste 175.9 km
6.0 19 km SE of Sergeyevka, Russia 441.2 km
6.0 south of Java, Indonesia 10.0 km
6.0 88 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands 42.0 km
6.0 206 km SSW of Sofifi, Indonesia 11.0 km
6.0 Balleny Islands region 10.0 km
6.0 94 km SW of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia 35.0 km
6.0 107 km NW of Bengkulu, Indonesia 53.0 km
6.0 133 km WNW of Santa Genoveva de Docordó, Colombia 10.0 km
6.0 136 km WNW of Nago, Japan 18.1 km
6.0 73 km NW of Isangel, Vanuatu 40.0 km
6.0 55 km N of Antofagasta, Chile 15.0 km
6.0 115 km ESE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan 31.0 km
6.0 Jujuy, Argentina 246.4 km
6.0 106 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia 35.0 km
6.0 110 km SE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.0 85 km ENE of Loreto, Mexico 26.1 km
6.0 119 km SW of Abepura, Indonesia 100.8 km
6.0 23 km WSW of Vorukh, Tajikistan 16.0 km
6.0 111 km SSE of Panguna, Papua New Guinea 10.0 km
6.0 northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 km
6.0 east of the Kuril Islands 10.0 km
6.0 100 km W of Ambon, Indonesia 13.0 km
6.0 131 km WSW of Adak, Alaska 28.0 km
6.0 24 km E of Adak, Alaska 35.0 km
6.0 110 km W of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia 35.0 km
6.0 94 km NNW of Hirara, Japan 11.1 km
6.0 136 km ENE of Hengchun, Taiwan 36.2 km
6.0 181 km SW of Sagres, Portugal 20.0 km
6.0 5 km SE of El Paraíso, Mexico 34.0 km

Understand the data

How earthquakes are measured

Magnitude scales, seismographs, and depth.

Reading earthquake data

Interpreting magnitude, depth and frequency.

All years

The full long-term seismic trend.

Frequently asked questions

How many earthquakes occurred in 2007? ▼
In 2007, the USGS catalog recorded 14,343 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 196 reached M6.0 or above.
What was the strongest earthquake in 2007? ▼
The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2007 reached magnitude 8.4, near 122 km SW of Bengkulu, Indonesia. There were 14 M7+ events during the year.
How does 2007 compare to other years? ▼
A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2007 recorded 14,343, with an average depth of 77 km. See the year index for the full long-term trend.
What magnitude scale is used? ▼
All magnitudes use the moment magnitude scale (Mw), the USGS standard. The scale is logarithmic, each whole step is roughly 32× more energy released.

About this data

Every figure on this page is computed directly from the USGS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), the public-domain record maintained by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. The worldwide catalog covers magnitude-4.0-and-above events from 2005 onward, the period over which the global seismograph network reliably detects and locates earthquakes everywhere. Magnitudes use the moment-magnitude scale (Mw), the modern standard that supersedes the older Richter scale; because the scale is logarithmic, each whole step up represents roughly thirty-two times more energy released. Depth is measured in kilometres from the surface, and shallow earthquakes generally produce stronger surface shaking than deep ones of the same magnitude. Annual counts reflect what instruments recorded, not every tremor that occurred; the current calendar year is always partial and will keep rising as the USGS adds and revises events, so it should never be compared directly against completed years.

Source: USGS ComCat, verify with USGS → · See our methodology for the full pipeline.

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