List of earthquakes in China

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of earthquakes in China.

Earthquakes with a magnitude 4.5 and over (1900–2015). The yellow star is the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

The collision of India with the rest of Asia has led to seismic activity throughout western China, particularly in Tibet and the Yunnan, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces. However these regions in comparison with Eastern China have a low population density. These areas also in general have poorer transport and building codes. Throughout China poor building codes increases the damage and loss of life from earthquakes.

China has been the location of some of the most deadly earthquakes in history. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed by magnitude 8.0 earthquakes in 1303 in Hongdong and 1556 in Shaanxi. This Shaanxi earthquake killed about 830,000 people, many dying with the collapse of their underground homes built into loess banks and cliffs. The 20th century saw 273,400 people killed in the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake and a magnitude 8.6 earthquake in 1950, the 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake which is the largest recorded earthquake in China. In 2008 the magnitude 7.9 2008 Sichuan earthquake killed more than 87,000 people.

Earthquake prediction was popular between 1966 and 1976, which overlapped with the Cultural Revolution. This reached its height with the successful prediction of the 1975 Haicheng earthquake. This earthquake had a prominent series of fore-shocks and authorities who were eager to issue a warning. However very few earthquakes have both these criteria. The unpredictable and devastating 1976 Tangshan earthquake led to a reduction of the popularity of earthquake prediction in China.

The northern regions of Eastern China are not as seismically active as the western areas of the country, but earthquakes are still possible in this area.

Earthquakes[]

Date Article Coord Location Mag. Deaths Description
512-05-21 512 Shaanxi earthquake 38°54′N 112°48′E / 38.9°N 112.8°E / 38.9; 112.8 Dai County, Shaanxi 7.5 Ms 5,310 (estimate)
1290-09-27 1290 Chihli earthquake[1] 41°30′N 119°18′E / 41.5°N 119.3°E / 41.5; 119.3 Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia 6.8 Ms 100,000
1303-09-25 1303 Hongdong earthquake[2] Shaanxi 8.0 ML 200,000+ Taiyuan and Pingyang were leveled.
1337-09-08 1337 Huailai earthquake[3] 40°24′N 115°42′E / 40.4°N 115.7°E / 40.4; 115.7 Hebei, Beijing 6.5 Ms .
1556-01-23 1556 Shaanxi earthquake 34°30′N 109°18′E / 34.50°N 109.30°E / 34.50; 109.30 Shaanxi 8.0 MW 830,000 Deadlist earthquake in Chinese history
1605-07=13 1605 Guangdong earthquake 19°54′N 110°30′E / 19.9°N 110.5°E / 19.9; 110.5 Guangdong 7.5 Ms  several thousand
1622-10-25 1622 North Guyuan earthquake 36°30′N 106°18′E / 36.5°N 106.3°E / 36.5; 106.3 Ningxia 7.2 MW 12,000
1668-07-25 1668 Tancheng earthquake 34°18′N 118°36′E / 34.30°N 118.60°E / 34.30; 118.60 Tancheng County, Shandong 8.0 MW 50,000 Largest seismic event ever recorded in history in eastern China.[4]
1679-09-02 1679 Sanhe-Pinggu earthquake 40°00′N 116°59′E / 40.000°N 116.983°E / 40.000; 116.983 Hebei, Beijing 8.0 Mw 45,500
1695-05-18 1695 Linfen earthquake 7.8 MS 52,600
1718-06-19 1718 Tongwei-Gansu earthquake 7.5 MS 75,000
1739-01-04 1739 Yinchuan–Pingluo earthquake 38°54′N 106°30′E / 38.9°N 106.5°E / 38.9; 106.5 Ningxia 8.0 Ms  50,000
1786-06-01 1786 Kangding-Luding earthquake[5][6] Sichuan 7.75 ML 100,000+ The earthquake triggered a landslide that formed an artificial mud dam which blocked the Dadu River. Ten days later, this dam was breached resulting in a catastrophic mudslide flooding event.
1833-09-06 1833 Kunming earthquake 25°24′N 103°00′E / 25.400°N 103.000°E / 25.400; 103.000 Yunnan 8.0 Mw 6,000
1879-07-01 1879 Gansu earthquake 33°12′N 104°42′E / 33.2°N 104.7°E / 33.2; 104.7 Gansu 8.0 Ms 22,000
1902-08-22 1902 Turkestan earthquake 40°00′N 77°00′E / 40.0°N 77.0°E / 40.0; 77.0 Xinjiang 7.7 Mw 2,500-20,000
1906-12-22 1906 Manasi earthquake 44°18′N 85°36′E / 44.3°N 85.6°E / 44.3; 85.6 Xinjiang 7.8 Mw 280
1918-02-13 1918 Shantou earthquake 23°32′N 117°14′E / 23.54°N 117.24°E / 23.54; 117.24 Shantou, Guangdong 7.2 Mw 1,000+
1920-12-16 1920 Haiyuan earthquake 36°30′N 105°42′E / 36.50°N 105.70°E / 36.50; 105.70 Haiyuan County, Ningxia 7.8 ML 234,117 4th deadliest earthquake of all time.
1925-03-16 1925 Dali earthquake 25°42′N 100°24′E / 25.7°N 100.4°E / 25.7; 100.4 Dali, Yunnan 7.0 Ms 5,000
1927-05-22 1927 Gulang earthquake 37°23′N 102°19′E / 37.39°N 102.31°E / 37.39; 102.31 Gulang County, Gansu 7.6 Mw 40,900
1931-08-10 1931 Fuyun earthquake[7] 47°06′N 89°48′E / 47.1°N 89.8°E / 47.1; 89.8 Fuyun County, Xinjiang 8.0 Mw 10,000[8]
1932-12-25 1932 Changma earthquake 39°42′N 96°42′E / 39.7°N 96.7°E / 39.7; 96.7 Gansu 7.6 Ms 275
1933-08-25 1933 Diexi earthquake 32°00′N 103°42′E / 32.0°N 103.7°E / 32.0; 103.7 Mao County, Sichuan 7.5 MS 9,000
1950-08-15 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake[9] 28°22′N 96°27′E / 28.36°N 96.45°E / 28.36; 96.45 Zayü County, Tibet 8.6 Mw 4,800 3,300 in Chinese-claimed territories
1952-08-18 1952 Damxung earthquake 30°38′53″N 91°36′4″E / 30.64806°N 91.60111°E / 30.64806; 91.60111 Damxung, Tibet 7.5 Mw 54
1955-4-14 1955 Kangding earthquake[10] Sichuan 7.1
1955-09-23 1955 Yuzha earthquake 26°36′N 101°48′E / 26.60°N 101.80°E / 26.60; 101.80 Yunnan 6.8 MS 728
1966-03-08 1966 Xingtai earthquake[11] 37°04′N 114°29′E / 37.067°N 114.483°E / 37.067; 114.483 Hebei 6.8 Mw 8,064
1969-07-26 1969 Yangjiang earthquake 21°37′N 111°50′E / 21.61°N 111.83°E / 21.61; 111.83 Yangjiang, Guangdong 6.4 Mw 3,000
1970-01-04 1970 Tonghai earthquake 24°11′N 102°32′E / 24.19°N 102.54°E / 24.19; 102.54 Tonghai County, Yunnan 7.1 Mw 15,621
1973-02-06 1973 Luhuo earthquake Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 7.5 MS[12] 2,175
1974-05-10 1974 Zhaotong earthquake 28°12′N 104°00′E / 28.2°N 104.0°E / 28.2; 104.0 Zhaotong, Yunnan 6.8 20,000[13]
1975-02-04 1975 Haicheng earthquake 40°40′N 122°41′E / 40.66°N 122.68°E / 40.66; 122.68 Haicheng, Liaoning 7.4 Mw 2,041 one of the few earthquakes to be successfully predicted throughout history[14]
1976-05-29 1976 Longling earthquake Yunnan 6.9 MS
7.0 MS		 98 Doublet earthquake
1976-07-27 1976 Tangshan earthquake 39°38′N 118°06′E / 39.63°N 118.10°E / 39.63; 118.10 Tangshan, Hebei 7.5 MW 242,419 3rd deadliest earthquake of all time.
1976-08-16 1976 Songpan-Pingwu earthquake Sichuan 7.2 MS 41 Earthquake swarm
1981-01-23 1981 Dawu earthquake 30°56′N 101°06′E / 30.93°N 101.10°E / 30.93; 101.10 Sichuan 6.8 ML 150
1988-11-06 1988 Lancang earthquake 22°47′20″N 99°36′40″E / 22.789°N 99.611°E / 22.789; 99.611 Yunnan 7.7 Mw
7.2 Mw		 939 Occurred near the border with Shan State, Myanmar. Doublet earthquake
1990-04-26 1990 Gonghe earthquake 35°59′10″N 100°14′42″E / 35.986°N 100.245°E / 35.986; 100.245 Qinghai 7.0 MS 126
1996-02-03 1996 Lijiang earthquake 27°18′N 100°17′E / 27.30°N 100.29°E / 27.30; 100.29 Yunnan 7.0 MS 309
2000-01-14 2000 Yunnan earthquake 25°37′N 101°04′E / 25.61°N 101.06°E / 25.61; 101.06 Yunnan 5.9 MW 7
2001-02-23 2001 Sichuan earthquake[15] 29°30′47″N 101°07′44″E / 29.513°N 101.129°E / 29.513; 101.129 Sichuan 5.6 MW 3
2001-11-14 2001 Kunlun earthquake 36°07′N 90°32′E / 36.12°N 90.54°E / 36.12; 90.54 Qinghai 7.8 MW 0
2003-02-24 2003 Bachu earthquake 39°37′N 77°14′E / 39.61°N 77.24°E / 39.61; 77.24 Maralbexi (Bachu) County, Xinjiang 6.3 MW 261
2003-12-01 2003 Zhaosu earthquake 42°54′18″N 80°30′54″E / 42.905°N 80.515°E / 42.905; 80.515 Zhaosu County, Xinjiang 6.0 MW 10
2005-11-26 2005 Ruichang earthquake 29°39′25″N 115°43′01″E / 29.657°N 115.717°E / 29.657; 115.717 Ruichang, Jiangxi 5.2 MW 14
2006-07-22 2006 Yanjin earthquake 27°59′31″N 104°12′54″E / 27.992°N 104.215°E / 27.992; 104.215 Yunnan 5.2 MW 22 Moderate damage
2008-05-12 2008 Sichuan earthquake 31°01′16″N 103°22′01″E / 31.021°N 103.367°E / 31.021; 103.367 Wenchuan County, Sichuan 7.9 MW 87,587 18th deadliest earthquake of all time
2008-08-21 2008 Yingjiang earthquakes 24°54′N 97°48′E / 24.9°N 97.8°E / 24.9; 97.8 Yunnan 6.0 Mw 5
2008-08-30 2008 Panzhihua earthquake 26°12′N 101°54′E / 26.2°N 101.9°E / 26.2; 101.9 Sichuan 5.7 MW 41
2008-10-06 2008 Damxung earthquake 29°27′00″N 90°11′13″E / 29.45°N 90.187°E / 29.45; 90.187 Damxung County, Tibet 6.4 MW 10
2010-04-14 2010 Yushu earthquake 33°18′N 96°42′E / 33.3°N 96.7°E / 33.3; 96.7 Yushu, Qinghai 6.9 Mw 2,698 270 Missing
2011-03-10 2011 Yunnan earthquake 24°42′36″N 97°59′38″E / 24.710°N 97.994°E / 24.710; 97.994 Yunnan 5.4 MW 26
2012-09-07 2012 Yunnan earthquakes 27°34′55″N 103°59′24″E / 27.582°N 103.990°E / 27.582; 103.990 Yiliang County, Yunnan 5.6 Mw 81
2013-03-03 2013 Yunnan earthquakes 25°55′08″N 99°43′30″E / 25.919°N 99.725°E / 25.919; 99.725 Dali, Yunnan 5.5 Mw 0 2,500 houses were damaged
2013-04-20 2013 Ya'an earthquake 30°17′02″N 102°57′22″E / 30.284°N 102.956°E / 30.284; 102.956 Lushan County, Sichuan 6.9 Mw 193 24 missing[16]
2013-07-22 2013 Dingxi earthquake 34°30′N 104°12′E / 34.5°N 104.2°E / 34.5; 104.2 Min County, Gansu 5.9 Mw 95 Magnitude M(s)6.6 according to CENC.
2013-08-31 2013 Yunnan earthquake 28°13′12″N 99°20′35″E / 28.220°N 99.343°E / 28.220; 99.343 Deqen, Yunnan 5.8 Mw 5
2014-05-24 2014 Yingjiang earthquake 25°00′N 97°48′E / 25.0°N 97.8°E / 25.0; 97.8 Yingjiang County, Yunnan 5.6 Mw 0 9,412 homes were destroyed.[17]
2014-08-03 2014 Ludian earthquake 27°14′42″N 103°25′37″E / 27.245°N 103.427°E / 27.245; 103.427 Ludian County, Yunnan 6.1 Mw 617 112 missing[18]
2017-08-08 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake 33°12′N 103°49′E / 33.20°N 103.82°E / 33.20; 103.82 Jiuzhaigou County, Sichuan 6.5 Mw 25 Landslides
2019-06-17 2019 Sichuan earthquake 28°24′18″N 104°57′25″E / 28.405°N 104.957°E / 28.405; 104.957 Changning County, Sichuan 5.8 Mw 13 20,000 houses were damaged
2021-05-21 2021 Dali earthquake 25°45′40″N 100°00′29″E / 25.761°N 100.008°E / 25.761; 100.008 Dali, Yunnan 6.1 Mw 3 32 injured, 12,882 houses damaged
2021-05-22 2021 Maduo earthquake 34°35′10″N 98°15′18″E / 34.586°N 98.255°E / 34.586; 98.255 Qinghai 7.3 Mw 0 19 people injured, moderate localized damage

ML  = Richter magnitude scale
Mw  = Moment magnitude
mb  = Body wave magnitude
Ms  = Surface wave magnitude

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ NGDC. "Comments for the Significant Earthquake". Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  2. ^ Science Museums of China. "Ruins of the Hongdong Earthquake(1303)". smc.kisti.re.kr. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  3. ^ Y-X. Hu; S-C. Liu; W. Dong (1996). Earthquake Engineering. CRC Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-419-20590-6.
  4. ^ Zhou, C., Diao, G., Geng, J. et al. Fault plane parameters of Tancheng M8½ earthquake on the basis of present-day seismological data. Earthq Sci 23, 567–576 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11589-010-0756-0
  5. ^ Schuster, R.L. and G. F. Wieczorek, "Landslide triggers and types" in Landslides: Proceedings of the First European Conference on Landslides 2002 A.A. Balkema Publishers. p.66 [1]
  6. ^ "The 1786 earthquake-triggered landslide dam and subsequent dam-break flood on the Dadu River, southwestern China" (PDF). Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  7. ^ Magnitude 8 and Greater Earthquakes Since 1900 by USGS.gov Archived 12 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Earthquakes with 1,000 or More Deaths since 1900". Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2016
  9. ^ "10 Greatest Earthquakes in China in 20th Century". Ningxia Daily website (in Chinese). 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
  10. ^ USGS. "M 7.1 – Westren Sichuan, China". earthquake.usgs.gov. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  11. ^ "Major earthquakes on Chinese mainland since 1966". houston.china-consulate.org.
  12. ^ Zhou, H.; Allen, C. R.; Kanamori, H. (1983). "Rupture complexity of the 1970 Tonghai and 1973 Luhuo earthquakes, China, from P-wave inversion, and relationship to surface faulting" (PDF). Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 73 (4): 1585–1597. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2010.
  13. ^ "Earthquakes with 1,000 or More Deaths 1900–2014". usgs.gov. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013.
  14. ^ Wyss, M.; Wu, Z. L. (2014). "How Many Lives Were Saved by the Evacuation Before the M7.3 Haicheng Earthquake of 1975?". Seismological Research Letters. 85 (85): 126–129. doi:10.1785/0220130089.
  15. ^ "M 5.6 - western Sichuan, China". USGS. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  16. ^ "我省雅安市芦山县发生7.0级地震（续七）". 四川省民政厅. 21 April 2013. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  17. ^ "12 injured in SW China quake". Shanghai Daily. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
  18. ^ "Magnitude-6.1 earthquake hits China's Yunnan province, at least 367 dead". news.com.au. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
Retrieved from ""