This is a list of earthquakes in 2002. Only earthquakes of magnitude 6 or above are included, unless they result in significant damage and/or casualties. All dates are listed according to UTC time. The maximum intensities are based on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. Earthquake magnitudes are based on data from the USGS. Like previous years, seismic activity was relatively moderate in the year 2002, being the first year since 1999 with no magnitude 8.0+ earthquakes. Up to 2,700 people died in earthquakes throughout 2002, most of them due to three relatively moderate but heavily-damaging events in northeastern Afghanistan. The largest earthquake of the year measured 7.9 and struck near Denali in Alaska, making it the most powerful earthquake to strike the United States since 1986, and the largest Alaskan earthquake to occur inland. Other notable events also struck Iran, Turkey, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Italy and the Philippines.

Compared to other years

By death toll Rank Death toll Magnitude Location MMI Depth (km) Date Event Afghanistan, Baghlan 2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes Iran, Qazvin 2002 Bou'in-Zahra earthquake Afghanistan, Badakhshan 2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes Afghanistan, Baghlan 2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes Turkey, Afyonkarahisar 2002 Afyon earthquake Papua New Guinea, Morobe 2002 Morobe earthquake and landslide Italy, Molise 2002 Molise earthquakes Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan 2002 Gilgit-Baltistan earthquakes Philippines, Soccsksargen offshore 2002 Mindanao earthquake Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan 2002 Gilgit-Baltistan earthquakes Listed are earthquakes with at least 10 dead.

By magnitude Rank Magnitude Death toll Location MMI Depth (km) Date Event 7.9 United States, Alaska 2002 Denali earthquake Eastern offshore - Fiji, Eastern offshore - Papua New Guinea, Sandaun offshore 2002 Sandaun earthquake Indonesia, West Papua offshore 2002 West Papua earthquake Philippines, Soccsksargen offshore 2002 Mindanao earthquake Afghanistan, Badakhshan 2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes Indonesia, Aceh offshore 2002 Sumatra earthquake China, Heilongjiang - Russia, Sakhalin offshore - Vanuatu, Shefa offshore 2002 Port Vila earthquake Taiwan, Yilan offshore 2002 Taiwan earthquake Guam offshore - Listed are earthquakes with at least 7.0 magnitude.

By month

January

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured1Pacific–Antarctic Ridge6.010.0 - - - -1, Davao, S of Lais6.3138.1IV - - -2, Central offshore, ENE of Suva6.2665.8 - - - -2, Shefa offshore, WNW of Port Vila7.221.0X -Several3, Badakhshan, NNW of Parun6.2129.3VForeshock of the 2002 Hindu Kush earthquakes. One person injured in the Mazar-e Sharif–Kabul area. -13, Shefa offshore, WNW of Port Vila6.610.0VIIIAftershock of the 2002 Port Vila earthquake. - -9, Districts under Central Government Jurisdiction, SSE of Roghun5.333.0VIIThree children killed, 54 people injured, 52 homes destroyed, 209 buildings and the Rogun Dam damaged in the epicentral area.35410, Sandaun, SE of Aitape6.711.0XOne person killed, 200 houses and 250 water tanks destroyed in Aitape.1 -13, East New Britain, E of Kimbe6.443.6VIII - - -15, Shefa offshore, NW of Port Vila6.010.0VIAftershock of the 2002 Port Vila earthquake. - -15, Banten offshore, W of Labuan6.110.0VII - - -15, West New Britain, E of Kimbe6.241.1VIIAftershock of the 6.4 event on January 13. - -16, Chiapas, SW of Las Brisas6.441.1VI - - -16, South Kivu, SSE of Sake4.715.4VI Several people killed and 307 buildings destroyed in the Gisenyi area, Rwanda.Several -21, Manisa, SSW of Gölmarmara4.610.0VIIOne person killed in İzmir.1 -22, South Aegean offshore, NW of Fry6.288.0V One person died of a heart attack in Antalya, Turkey.1 -28, Sakhalin offshore, SSW of Severo-Kuril’sk6.133.0V - - -28, Niua offshore, NE of Hihifo6.233.0V - - -30, West New Britain offshore, SE of Kimbe6.033.0VII - - -

February

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured3, Afyonkarahisar, NE of Sultandağı6.55.0IX463323, Afyonkarahisar, WNW of Çay6.010.0VIIIAftershock of the 2002 Afyon earthquake - -3, Districts under Central Government Jurisdiction, ESE of Roghun4.943.8VISeveral people injured and several buildings damaged in the Roghun area. -Several5, West New Britain, E of Kimbe6.639.0VIII - - -15, Easter Island offshore6.010.0 - - - -17, Bushehr, SW of Fīrūzābād5.433.0VIIOne person killed, 30 injured and 80% of homes damaged at Baghan.13019, New Ireland offshore, S of Kavieng6.110.0V - - -20, Lower Silesia, N of Polkowice4.91.0VIIThree people injured, equipment damaged and several tunnels collapsed at the Rudna mine. Several buildings damaged in Polkowice. -35, East New Britain, E of Kimbe6.340.2VIII - - -

March

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured3, Badakhshan, ESE of Farkhār6.3209.0VForeshock of the 2002 Hindu Kush earthquake. - -3, Badakhshan, SW of Jurm7.4225.6VI169585, Soccsksargen offshore, SW of Malisbeng7.531.0IX151008, Soccsksargen offshore, SSW of Maguling6.023.3VAftershock of the 2002 Mindanao earthquake. - -9, South Sandwich Islands offshore6.0118.4 - - - -17, Prince Edward Islands offshore6.010.0 - - - -19, Banda Sea offshore6.1148.1 - - - -25, Baghlan, E of Nahrin6.18.0VII2,0005,00026, Okinawa offshore, S of Ishigaki6.433.0VI - - -28, Antofagasta, NE of Calama6.5125.1V Landslides blocked roads and power outages occurred in Pica. - -31, Yilan offshore, ENE of Hualien City7.132.8VIII5213

April

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured1, Morobe, NW of Finschhafen5.380.5IV36111, Coquimbo, NNW of La Serena6.471.0VILandslides and minor damage in the epicentral area. - -7, Macquarie Island offshore6.210.0 - - - -8Western Indian-Antarctic Ridge6.210.0 - - - -11, Torba offshore, SSE of Sola6.210.0VIII - - -12, Baghlan, ESE of Nahrin5.910.0VII5015018, Guerrero offshore, SSW of Nuxco6.824.9VIIITwo buildings damaged in Mexico City. - -18, Atacama, SW of Copiapó6.762.0VIINineteen people injured, 2,424 homeless, 34 homes destroyed, 575 others damaged, rockslides blocked roads, power outages and water lines broken in the Copiapó-Chañaral area. -1920 region offshore6.033.0 - - - -20, New York, NNW of Au Sable Forks5.34.8VII - -22, Lima, N of Calango4.466.6IVOne girl died of a heart attack in Lima.1 -24, Gjilan, S of Gjilan5.710.0VII110024Southern East Pacific Rise6.210.0 - - - -24, Kermanshah, SW of Sonqor5.433.0VIIITwo people killed, 56 injured, 10 villages destroyed and 50 others damaged in Kermanshah Province.25625, Kvemo Kartli, N of Didi Lilo4.810.0VI77026 offshore, SSW of Merizo Village7.185.7VIIIFive people injured, minor damage to buildings, water and sewer lines broke and power outages occurred in Guam. -5

May

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured8, Vava‘u offshore, NW of Neiafu6.2130.8 - - - -14Mid-Indian Ridge6.210.0 - - - -15, Yilan offshore, SE of Yilan6.210.0IXOne person killed, another injured and two homes damaged in Dongshan.1118, Shinyanga, ENE of Malya5.510.0VIIITwo people killed, 400 families displaced, 690 huts collapsed and 700 more damaged in Bunda District.2 -23, Coquimbo, S of Ovalle6.052.1VIISome homes damaged in San Julián and power outages in the Hurtado-La Serena-Monte Patria-Punitaqui area. - -24, Caraș-Severin, ESE of Pojejena4.710.0VIFive people slightly injured and some buildings damaged in the epicentral area. -525, Alaska offshore, SSE of King Cove6.433.0 - - - -28, La Rioja, S of Arauco6.022.2VIIITwenty-seven people injured and 40 homes destroyed in the Aminga-Anillaco-Agua Blanca-Chuquis area. About 50% of homes damaged in Castro Barros Department. Landslides occurred in the epicentral area. -2728, Hualien offshore, E of Hualien City6.133.0VI - - -

June

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured6, New Ireland offshore, NE of Lorengau6.310.0 - - - -10, Yap offshore, N of Fais6.133.0 - - - -13Southeast Indian Ridge6.610.0 - - - -14, Ibaraki, SSW of Yuki4.951.7VIOne person injured in Toride. Bullet train service was interrupted on several lines. -116, Puntarenas offshore, WSW of Ciudad Cortés6.435.0VII - - -17Central East Pacific Rise 6.010.0 - - - -17, Torba, NW of Sola6.733.0VII - - -18, Coquimbo, SW of Monte Patria6.654.0VII Two homes destroyed in Illapel and another in Monte Patria. Several schools slightly damaged in Limarí Province. - -20, Rangpur, NNE of Saidpur4.539.8VFifty people injured and damage in Rangpur, five people injured in Thakurgaon and some buildings damaged in Alamnagar. -5521, Madang offshore, NE of Madang6.033.0 - - - -22, Qazvin, SSW of Abhar6.510.0VIII2611,50024, Kairouan, SW of Sbikha5.210.0VIITwelve people injured and some homes collapsed in Kairouan. -1222, Hamadan, E of Qohūrd-e ‘Olyā4.610.0VIAftershock of the 2002 Bou'in-Zahra earthquake. Two people injured in Razan. -227, Banten offshore, WSW of Labuan6.511.0V - - -27, Torba, NW of Sola6.0186.7 - - - -28, Heilongjiang, SW of Dongning7.3566.0I - - -29, Torba, NW of Sola6.233.0 -Aftershock of the 6.7 event on June 17. - - -30 South of the Fiji Islands6.5620.4 - - - -

July

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured3, Madang offshore, E of Madang6.231.2VI - - -13, Balochistan, W of Taunsa5.833.0VIIILandslides blocked roads in the epicentral area. - -19Pacific–Antarctic Ridge6.110.0 - - - -30, South Sandwich Islands offshore6.233.0 - - - -31, Chiriquí offshore, SE of Punta de Burica6.510.0VIIIEleven people injured, some homes collapsed and many buildings damaged in Barú District, Chiriquí. Buildings damaged in Alanje and David. One wharf damaged in Puerto Armuelles. Eight people injured, six homes collapsed and dozens more damaged in the Laurel-Neily area, Costa Rica. -19

August

+DateCountry and locationMwDepth (km)MMINotesCasualtiesDeadInjured2, Izu Islands offshore6.3426.1I - - - 4Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge6.010.0 - - - - 7, Chiriquí offshore, S of Punta de Burica6.010.0VI Aftershock of the 6.5 event on July 31. - -8, Sichuan, WNW of Kangding5.333.0VEight homes destroyed and 66 damaged in Rulong. - -9, Niua offshore, W of Hihifo6.1364.1 - - - -12, Tafea offshore, W of Isangel6.0112.2 - - - -14, Ngulu offshore, SW of Colonia6.310.0 - - - -14, Rota offshore, SSE of San Jose Village6.530.0V Minor damage to some buildings in Saipan. - -15, Central Sulawesi, ENE of Poso6.210.0IX One person killed, 48 others injured, 138 homes destroyed and 509 others damaged in Tojo Una-Una Regency. 14819, Eastern offshore, SSE of Levuka7.7580.0IAn example of a doublet earthquake. - -19, Eastern offshore, S of Suva7.7675.4I - -19 South of the Fiji Islands6.1677.4 -Aftershock of the 7.7 events. - -20, Izu Islands offshore6.39.0 - - - - 24, Sakhalin offshore, SSE of Nemuro, Japan6.142.6VII - - -

September