8.3Ms

1556 Shaanxi Earthquake

02.02.1556 00:00 UTC Huaxian (Shanxi)
Sensitivity zones: strong — up to 278.9 km moderate — up to 697.3 km weak — up to 1549.7 km

About this earthquake

The deadliest earthquake in human history. Chinese annals record about 830,000 deaths: millions of Loess Plateau inhabitants lived in yaodongs — cave dwellings dug into soft loess — which collapsed with the very first shocks.

Sensitivity zones

Approximate radii, derived from magnitude and hypocentre depth, within which shaking is typically felt:

  • strong — up to 278.9 km
  • moderate — up to 697.3 km
  • weak — up to 1549.7 km

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