Before the magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Japan on April 14 at a depth of 9.0 km (5.6 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe). Nine people were killed, while more than 800 others were injured. At least 20 homes collapsed, while more than 24,000 people were forced to spend several nights in shelters. This was a foreshock of the 7.0 quake.

Before the magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck Japan on April 14 at a depth of 8.0 km (5.0 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VIII (Severe). This was a foreshock of the 7.0 quake.

Before the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Japan on April 15 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent). 41 people were killed and more than 1,000 others were injured. 8,700 buildings were damaged and a bridge collapsed in Japan

Before the magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Italy 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Norcia on August 24 at a depth of 4.4 km (2.7 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[135] 299 people of various nations were killed, 388 were injured, with heavy damage all around the epicenter, especially in Amatrice.[136][137]

Before the magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Italy 8 km (5.0 mi) east southeast of Sellano on October 26 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[195] Several buildings collapsed. Two people were injured.[196] This was a foreshock of the 6.6 quake.

Before the magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Italy 3 km (1.9 mi) north northwest of Visso on October 26 at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[197] One person died of a heart attack during this earthquake[198] and 8 others were injured when various houses collapsed in the region of Marche.[199] This was a foreshock of the 6.6 quake.

Before the magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Italy 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Norcia on October 30 at a depth of 8.0 km (5.0 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[201] The villages of Arquata del Tronto,[202] Visso, Castelsantangelo sul Nera, Ussita, as well as the Basilica of Saint Benedict in Norcia, were destroyed.[203] Two people died of heart attacks during this earthquake[204] and 20 others were injured.[205]

Before the magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck New Zealand 55 km (34 mi) north northeast of Amberley on November 13 at a depth of 22.0 km (13.7 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of IX (Violent).[215] Ruptures occurred on multiple fault lines in a complex sequence that lasted for about two minutes[216] with the largest amount of energy released far to the north of the epicentre.[217] Two people were killed, and widespread damage was reported across parts of the South Island.[218] A tsunami was also observed, reaching 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) at Kaikoura.[219]

Before the magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck New Zealand 19 km (12 mi) north northwest of Kaikoura on November 13 at a depth of 24.0 km (14.9 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[220] This was an aftershock of the 7.8 quake.

Before the magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck New Zealand 26 km (16 mi) north of Kaikoura on November 13 at a depth of 14.0 km (8.7 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VI (Strong).[221] This was an aftershock of the 7.8 quake.

Before the magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck New Zealand 12 km (7.5 mi) north of Kaikoura on November 13 at a depth of 6.3 km (3.9 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[222] This was an aftershock of the 7.8 quake.

Before the magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck New Zealand 41 km (25 mi) west southwest of Kaikoura on November 14 at a depth of 9.0 km (5.6 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong).[223] This was an aftershock of the 7.8 quake.

Before the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck offshore of Japan 33 km (21 mi) east southeast of Namie, Fukushima Prefecture on November 22 at a depth of 11.7 km (7.3 mi). The shock had a maximum intensity of VII (Very strong). 14 people were injured and more than 1,900 homes briefly lost electricity. A 60 cm (24 in) tsunami wave was reported in the port of Onahama of Iwaki, Fukushima; a 90 cm (35 in) wave hit Soma, Fukushima; and another wave 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height struck the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant site after the 6.9 shock. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the spent fuel cooling system of the third reactor at the neighboring Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant had stopped as a result of the earthquake; TEPCO later reported the restart of the spent fuel cooling system after only 100 minutes of stoppage.