Annual review · USGS ComCat

Earthquakes in 2009

8,868 magnitude-4-and-above earthquakes were catalogued worldwide in 2009, including 159 significant M6+ events. The strongest reached M8.1.

Compiled by PlainQuake Editorial, Earthquake Data Editorial Team

8,868
M4+ events: 159
Significant M6+: M8.1
Strongest: 60 km
Avg depth

The year in one line

2009 logged 8,868 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide, 159 of them major M6+ events, topping out at magnitude 8.1.

8,868
M4+ events worldwide: 159
major M6+ events: M8.1
strongest of the year: 60 km
average hypocentral depth

Major-event activity peaked in Oct with 34 M6+ events, aftershock sequences can drive month-to-month spikes for over a year after a megathrust.

M4.0–4.9

6,804
M5.0–5.9

1,905
M6.0–6.9

142
M7.0–7.9

16
M8.0+

1

What this shows As in every year, the catalog is dominated by moderate M4–5 events; the rare M6+ band - 159 events in 2009 - is where damaging shaking lives.

Major (M6+) events by month

Count of significant (M6+) earthquakes catalogued in each month of 2009.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Significant earthquakes in 2009 (160)

Every catalogued M6+ earthquake recorded during 2009, strongest impact first.

Mag	Location	Depth	Date
8.1	2009 Samoa Earthquake	18.0 km	Sep 29, 2009
7.8	97 km WSW of Te Anau, New Zealand	12.0 km	Jul 15, 2009
7.8	196 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu	35.0 km	Oct 7, 2009
7.7	148 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu	45.0 km	Oct 7, 2009
7.7	140 km WNW of Manokwari, Indonesia	17.0 km	Jan 3, 2009
7.6	30 km WSW of Pariaman, Indonesia	81.0 km	Sep 30, 2009
7.6	191 km S of ‘Ohonua, Tonga	31.0 km	Mar 19, 2009
7.5	266 km N of Bamboo Flat, India	24.0 km	Aug 10, 2009
7.4	143 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu	31.1 km	Oct 7, 2009
7.4	86 km WNW of Manokwari, Indonesia	23.0 km	Jan 3, 2009
7.4	east of the Kuril Islands	36.0 km	Jan 15, 2009
7.3	77 km ENE of Ba, Fiji	595.0 km	Nov 9, 2009
7.3	46 km NW of Guanaja, Honduras	19.0 km	May 28, 2009
7.2	196 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines	20.0 km	Feb 11, 2009
7.1	161 km S of ?yama, Japan	292.0 km	Aug 9, 2009
7.0	66 km SSW of Banjar, Indonesia	46.0 km	Sep 2, 2009
7.0	Kermadec Islands region	25.0 km	Feb 18, 2009
6.9	Kuril Islands	31.0 km	Apr 7, 2009
6.9	268 km WSW of Tual, Indonesia	130.0 km	Oct 24, 2009
6.9	211 km NE of Maumere, Indonesia	642.4 km	Aug 28, 2009
6.9	96 km WNW of Bahía de Kino, Mexico	10.0 km	Aug 3, 2009
6.8	188 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu	35.0 km	Oct 8, 2009
6.8	98 km NNE of Naze, Japan	34.0 km	Oct 30, 2009
6.8	186 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	21.0 km	Oct 7, 2009
6.8	221 km SSE of Tabiauan, Philippines	574.0 km	Oct 7, 2009
6.8	104 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga	18.0 km	Nov 24, 2009
6.7	190 km ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea	64.0 km	Jun 23, 2009
6.7	South Sandwich Islands region	20.0 km	Apr 16, 2009
6.7	298 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia	27.0 km	Jan 15, 2009
6.7	114 km SW of Ishigaki, Japan	20.0 km	Aug 17, 2009
6.7	112 km WSW of Padang, Indonesia	20.0 km	Aug 16, 2009
6.6	49 km SSE of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia	9.0 km	Oct 1, 2009
6.6	103 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	35.0 km	Aug 10, 2009
6.6	290 km ENE of Kuril’sk, Russia	35.0 km	Apr 18, 2009
6.6	29 km NNW of Bima, Indonesia	18.0 km	Nov 8, 2009
6.6	southeast of the Loyalty Islands	12.0 km	Jan 19, 2009
6.6	71 km W of Gadung, Philippines	620.0 km	Oct 4, 2009
6.6	154 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga	11.0 km	Aug 30, 2009
6.6	50 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan	204.8 km	Jan 3, 2009
6.6	254 km SSW of Prince Rupert, Canada	17.0 km	Nov 17, 2009
6.6	244 km SSE of Tateyama, Japan	53.0 km	Aug 12, 2009
6.5	92 km N of Iquique, Chile	27.0 km	Nov 13, 2009
6.5	Kermadec Islands region	43.0 km	May 16, 2009
6.5	north of Svalbard	9.0 km	Mar 6, 2009
6.5	127 km E of Nikolski, Alaska	24.0 km	Oct 13, 2009
6.4	20 km S of Hualien City, Taiwan	43.0 km	Dec 19, 2009
6.4	236 km WSW of La Cruz de Loreto, Mexico	13.0 km	Sep 24, 2009
6.4	105 km ESE of Shizunai-furukawach?, Japan	29.0 km	Jun 5, 2009
6.4	central Mid-Atlantic Ridge	10.0 km	Dec 9, 2009
6.4	241 km E of Levuka, Fiji	522.6 km	Nov 22, 2009
6.4	52 km E of Wewak, Papua New Guinea	10.0 km	Apr 1, 2009
6.4	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	33.0 km	Jan 18, 2009
6.4	123 km ESE of Nikolski, Alaska	14.0 km	Oct 13, 2009
6.4	southeast of the Loyalty Islands	45.0 km	Dec 9, 2009
6.4	95 km S of Néa Anatolí, Greece	19.0 km	Jul 1, 2009
6.4	27 km NNE of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela	14.0 km	Sep 12, 2009
6.3	Philippine Islands region	48.0 km	Apr 4, 2009
6.3	south of the Fiji Islands	269.8 km	Aug 18, 2009
6.3	5 km S of San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala	108.0 km	May 3, 2009
6.3	Sea of Okhotsk	656.2 km	Dec 10, 2009
6.3	294 km SW of Laojunmiao, China	13.0 km	Aug 28, 2009
6.3	159 km NW of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	Oct 14, 2009
6.3	98 km SE of Preobrazheniye, Russia	392.0 km	Dec 24, 2009
6.3	61 km E of Hualien City, Taiwan	17.0 km	Jul 13, 2009
6.3	South Sandwich Islands region	15.0 km	Feb 28, 2009
6.3	193 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines	27.0 km	Feb 12, 2009
6.3	213 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines	35.0 km	Mar 16, 2009
6.3	155 km SW of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia	22.0 km	Apr 15, 2009
6.3	259 km S of Punta de Burica, Panama	9.0 km	Mar 12, 2009
6.3	3 km SE of Sassa, Italy	8.8 km	Apr 6, 2009
6.3	38 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	15.0 km	Jun 2, 2009
6.2	Kermadec Islands region	435.7 km	Nov 22, 2009
6.2	39 km SSE of Jurm, Afghanistan	185.9 km	Oct 22, 2009
6.2	250 km S of Pundong, Indonesia	23.0 km	Sep 7, 2009
6.2	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	257.0 km	Sep 2, 2009
6.2	97 km N of San Luis, Mexico	10.0 km	Aug 3, 2009
6.2	100 km WSW of Abra Pampa, Argentina	220.4 km	Nov 14, 2009
6.2	Mauritius - Reunion region	10.0 km	Oct 12, 2009
6.2	south of Tonga	9.0 km	Nov 2, 2009
6.2	Easter Island region	10.0 km	Sep 17, 2009
6.2	53 km S of Jurm, Afghanistan	210.0 km	Oct 29, 2009
6.2	198 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu	42.0 km	Oct 12, 2009
6.2	80 km WNW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia	152.0 km	Apr 21, 2009
6.2	32 km WSW of Makurazaki, Japan	163.0 km	Sep 3, 2009
6.2	8 km NE of Sagara, Japan	40.4 km	Aug 10, 2009
6.1	59 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	44.7 km	Oct 8, 2009
6.1	107 km W of Te Anau, New Zealand	10.0 km	Aug 5, 2009
6.1	136 km WNW of Manokwari, Indonesia	20.0 km	Aug 2, 2009
6.1	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Aug 1, 2009
6.1	60 km N of Kandrian, Papua New Guinea	89.0 km	May 12, 2009
6.1	69 km WSW of Labuan, Indonesia	38.0 km	Oct 16, 2009
6.1	91 km E of Sarangani, Philippines	38.8 km	Nov 28, 2009
6.1	54 km SE of Hihifo, Tonga	8.0 km	Oct 2, 2009
6.1	Baffin Bay	19.0 km	Jul 7, 2009
6.1	194 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines	25.0 km	Apr 19, 2009
6.1	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	131.7 km	Apr 26, 2009
6.1	11 km W of Trashigang, Bhutan	14.0 km	Sep 21, 2009
6.1	171 km W of Tual, Indonesia	85.0 km	Dec 26, 2009
6.1	94 km SSW of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea	13.4 km	Jul 15, 2009
6.1	120 km SSW of Ishigaki, Japan	15.0 km	Aug 17, 2009
6.1	Bouvet Island region	10.0 km	Jun 16, 2009
6.1	off the coast of Ecuador	6.0 km	May 10, 2009
6.1	New Britain region, Papua New Guinea	44.0 km	Jan 22, 2009
6.1	near the coast of northern Peru	21.0 km	Feb 15, 2009
6.1	southeast of the Loyalty Islands	24.0 km	Jan 21, 2009
6.1	Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska	22.0 km	Jul 6, 2009
6.1	66 km SSW of Hirara, Japan	25.0 km	Aug 5, 2009
6.1	107 km SE of Caburan, Philippines	35.0 km	Jun 14, 2009
6.1	219 km NE of Lospalos, Timor Leste	146.7 km	Jan 22, 2009
6.1	77 km NNW of Iquique, Chile	25.0 km	Apr 17, 2009
6.1	41 km SSW of Hualien City, Taiwan	28.0 km	Oct 3, 2009
6.1	10 km NNE of Sabanilla, Costa Rica	14.0 km	Jan 8, 2009
6.1	10 km SSW of Tirapata, Peru	198.9 km	Jul 12, 2009
6.1	4 km NNW of El Porvenir, Panama	38.0 km	Jul 4, 2009
6.0	Pacific-Antarctic Ridge	10.0 km	Dec 31, 2009
6.0	south of the Fiji Islands	417.9 km	Oct 25, 2009
6.0	183 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands	35.0 km	Oct 8, 2009
6.0	171 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu	35.0 km	Oct 8, 2009
6.0	Fiji region	10.0 km	Oct 2, 2009
6.0	95 km NE of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	Sep 29, 2009
6.0	Norwegian Sea	6.0 km	Aug 20, 2009
6.0	southeast of Easter Island	12.0 km	Jul 8, 2009
6.0	northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge	14.0 km	Jun 6, 2009
6.0	Kermadec Islands region	4.0 km	May 24, 2009
6.0	60 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia	21.0 km	Dec 9, 2009
6.0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	28.0 km	Nov 28, 2009
6.0	Drake Passage	10.0 km	Oct 27, 2009
6.0	249 km E of Tadine, New Caledonia	10.0 km	Oct 11, 2009
6.0	134 km E of Hihifo, Tonga	10.0 km	Sep 29, 2009
6.0	135 km N of Tobelo, Indonesia	32.0 km	Oct 13, 2009
6.0	Macquarie Island region	10.0 km	Sep 23, 2009
6.0	82 km SSW of Campo Pesquero el Colorado, Mexico	10.0 km	Jul 3, 2009
6.0	127 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia	93.0 km	Mar 28, 2009
6.0	southern East Pacific Rise	10.0 km	Dec 3, 2009
6.0	172 km WSW of Waingapu, Indonesia	15.0 km	Nov 28, 2009
6.0	Macquarie Island region	10.0 km	Nov 5, 2009
6.0	131 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia	105.7 km	Oct 15, 2009
6.0	Kuril Islands	112.0 km	Oct 10, 2009
6.0	297 km SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia	36.0 km	Sep 10, 2009
6.0	121 km WNW of Panguna, Papua New Guinea	39.0 km	Dec 14, 2009
6.0	Nicobar Islands, India region	23.0 km	Nov 10, 2009
6.0	164 km S of Lata, Solomon Islands	31.1 km	Oct 23, 2009
6.0	Galapagos Triple Junction region	10.0 km	Oct 15, 2009
6.0	Prince Edward Islands region	16.0 km	Jun 4, 2009
6.0	Mid-Indian Ridge	10.0 km	Jan 13, 2009
6.0	40 km WNW of Pisco, Peru	21.0 km	Feb 2, 2009
6.0	226 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines	32.0 km	Feb 22, 2009
6.0	southeast of the Loyalty Islands	35.0 km	Jan 19, 2009
6.0	73 km WNW of Manokwari, Indonesia	16.0 km	Jan 6, 2009
6.0	Kermadec Islands, New Zealand	13.0 km	Feb 17, 2009
6.0	192 km SSE of Sarangani, Philippines	26.0 km	Feb 12, 2009
6.0	211 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines	35.0 km	Feb 12, 2009
6.0	211 km SE of Sarangani, Philippines	35.0 km	Feb 11, 2009
6.0	23 km SSW of Karonga, Malawi	6.0 km	Dec 19, 2009
6.0	119 km WSW of Padang, Indonesia	19.0 km	Dec 23, 2009
6.0	117 km SSW of Sechura, Peru	15.0 km	Feb 9, 2009
6.0	147 km SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama	18.0 km	Oct 22, 2009
6.0	55 km WNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu	15.0 km	Jun 12, 2009
6.0	159 km SSW of Lotofag?, Samoa	18.0 km	Oct 19, 2009
6.0	8 km N of Oni, Georgia	15.0 km	Sep 7, 2009

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 2009? ▼

In 2009, the USGS catalog recorded 8,868 earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 or greater worldwide. Of these, 159 reached M6.0 or above.

What was the strongest earthquake in 2009? ▼

The strongest catalogued earthquake in 2009 reached magnitude 8.1, near 2009 Samoa Earthquake. There were 16 M7+ events during the year.

How does 2009 compare to other years? ▼

A typical year sees roughly 13,000–18,000 catalogued M4+ earthquakes worldwide. 2009 recorded 8,868, with an average depth of 60 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.

Disclaimer: PlainQuake is an informational reference for informational purposes only, not an emergency or early-warning service, and not professional engineering or safety advice. For official alerts and guidance, consult the USGS and your local emergency authorities. See our full disclaimer.