7.5mw

Tangshan Earthquake

27.07.1976 19:42 UTC Depth 23 km 17 km NE of Penguanzhuang, China
Sensitivity zones: strong — up to 106.9 km moderate — up to 267.3 km weak — up to 594.1 km

About this earthquake

The deadliest earthquake of the 20th century. The night-time shock struck directly beneath Tangshan, an industrial city of a million people with no seismic-resistant construction — the city was levelled within a minute. The official death toll is 242,000; independent estimates reach 655,000.

Fatalities: ≈242,000 (estimates up to 655,000) Wikipedia article ↗ All largest earthquakes in history →

Sensitivity zones

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

  • strong — up to 106.9 km
  • moderate — up to 267.3 km
  • weak — up to 594.1 km

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