1913 Eshan earthquake

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1913 Eshan earthquake
China Yunnan location map.svg
Bullseye1.png
UTC  time1913-12-21 15:37:56
ISC  event 914108
USGS-ANSS ComCat
Local date21 December 1913
Magnitude Mw 6.8
Depth15 km (9 mi)
Epicenter 24°15′50″N102°49′37″E / 24.264°N 102.827°E / 24.264; 102.827
TypeStrike-slip
Areas affected Yunnan, China
Max. intensity IX (Violent)
Casualties942–1,900 fatalities

The 1913 Eshan earthquake struck China's Yunnan Province on 21 December with a moment magnitude of 6.8 and maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). [1] The shock devastated Eshan County; at least 942 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed. The earthquake ruptured along a section of the strike-slip Qujiang Fault.

Contents

Tectonic setting

Major earthquakes in eastern Yunnan and the border with Sichuan are associated with the north–south striking Xiaojiang Fault; the west–northwest striking Zemuhe Fault to its north; and the northwest trending Qujiang–Shiping Fault. Some of these faults, including the Red River Fault, represent the boundaries of tectonic blocks within both provinces. The Qujiang–Shiping Fault comprises two fault segments (north and south) with a total length of 120 km (75 mi) that strikes northwest to west–northwest and eventually east–west at its southern part. Its slip mechanism comprises right-lateral strike-slip with a notable thrust component. The region is one of the most seismically active zone in Yunnan. [2]

Earthquake

The Qujiang Fault runs northeast and parallel to the much longer Red River Fault, striking northwest–west-northwest. Three ≥M7.0 earthquakes, including the 1913 earthquake, occurred on this fault in 1599 and 1970. The 1970 earthquake measuring Ms  7.7 caused a 60 km (37 mi) surface rupture. [3] The northwestern Qujiang Fault ruptured during the 1913 earthquake while its southeastern portion was associated with the earthquake in 1970. [4]

Impact

More than 18,000 homes were destroyed and the earthquake affected a 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi) area. When the earthquake struck, the region was experiencing heavy snowfall which caused many survivors to die from freezing and starvation. A plague further added to the suffering on top of the lack of food and clothes. Looting was also taking place. [5] In Eshan County, at least 942 people died while the death toll may be as high as 1,900. Another 112 people were also injured. Eighty to ninety percent of residential homes were demolished; all schools, temples and government buildings were also destroyed. Many bridges and city walls were also razed. On agricultural land, large cracks opened, erupting sand and water. Many people reportedly fall into these cracks. In Tonghai, several structures collapsed. Nine people died and 1,000 homes were destroyed in villages. One person died in Hexi; an 8 m (26 ft) section of parapet collapsed; many homes and government buildings also toppled. Sixteen people died in Yuxi; old houses in the county were also destroyed. In Xinping, the room of a government office collapsed and killed three. [6] Landslides affected a 2,839 km2 (1,096 sq mi) area. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

The 1970 Tonghai earthquake occurred at 01:00:41 local time on January 5 with a moment magnitude of 7.1 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The strike-slip rupture originated on the Red River Fault, which had not experienced an earthquake above magnitude 7 since 1700, and affected Tonghai County, Yunnan province, China. At least 10,000 people were killed, making it one of the deadliest in its decade. The tremor caused between US$5 and $25 million in damage, felt over an area of 8,781 km2 (3,390 sq mi). In Hanoi, North Vietnam, almost 483 km (300 mi) from the epicenter, victims left their homes as the rupture rumbled through the city.

The 1991 Uttarkashi earthquake occurred at 02:53:16 Indian Standard Time (UTC+05:30) on 20 October with a moment magnitude of 6.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). This thrust event was instrumentally recorded and occurred along the Main Central Thrust in the Uttarkashi and Gharwal regions of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. High intensity shaking resulted in the deaths of at least 768 people and the destruction of thousands of homes.

An earthquake occurred on 1 June 1786 in and around Kangding, in what is now China's Sichuan province. It had an estimated magnitude of about 7.75 and a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The initial quake killed 435 people. After an aftershock ten days later, a further 100,000 died when a landslide dam collapsed across the Dadu river.

The 1988 Lancang–Gengma earthquakes, also known as the 11.6 earthquakes by the Chinese media were a pair of devastating seismic events that struck Lancang and Gengma counties, Yunnan, near the border with Shan State, Burma. The earthquake measured moment magnitude (Mw ) 7.0 and was followed 13 minutes later by a 6.9 Mw  shock. These earthquakes were assigned a maximum China seismic intensity of IX and X, respectively. Between 748 and 939 people were killed; more than 7,700 were injured. Both earthquakes resulted in US$270 million in damage and economic losses. Moderately large aftershocks continued to rock the region, causing additional casualties and damage.

The 1973 Luhuo earthquake struck near the town of Zhaggo in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China on February 6, 1973, with a magnitude of 7.6 Ms. The earthquake had a maximum intensity of X (Extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. It resulted in between 2,175 and 2,204 deaths and a further 2,743 injuries. Serious and widespread destruction occurred in Luhuo County.

A major seismic event occurred during the rule of the Qing dynasty in Shandong Province on July 25, 1668. The earthquake had an estimated magnitude of Ms 8.5, making it the largest historical earthquake in East China, and one of the largest to occur on land. The earthquake had cataclysmic implications to the region. An estimated 43,000 to 50,000 lives were lost in the earthquake, and its effects were widely felt. The epicenter may have been located between Ju and Tancheng counties, northeast of the prefecture-level city of Linyi in southern Shandong.

The 1739 Yinchuan–Pingluo earthquake rocked the northern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on January 3 with an epicenter in the prefecture-level city Shizuishan. The estimated magnitude 7.1–7.6 earthquake had a maximum intensity of XI on the Mercalli intensity scale, and killed about 50,000 residents and officials. It was widely felt; perceived in Shanxi, Shaanxi and Hebei provinces. Aftershocks persisted for more than two years with the largest being a 5.5 on February 13 that same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1586 Tenshō earthquake</span> Earthquake in Japan

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The 1995 Menglian earthquake or 1995 Myanmar–China earthquake occurred on 12 July at 05:46:43 local time in the Myanmar–China border region. The earthquake had an epicenter on the Myanmar side of the border, located in the mountainous region of Shan State. It registered 7.3 on the Chinese surface wave magnitude scale (Ms ) and 6.8 on the moment magnitude scale (Mw ). With a maximum Mercalli intensity assigned at VIII, the quake killed eleven people and left another 136 injured. Over 100,000 homes in both countries were destroyed and 42,000 seriously damaged. Some damage to structures were also reported in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, Thailand. The low death toll from this earthquake was attributed to an early warning issued prior to it happening. Precursor events including foreshocks and some seismic anomalies led to an evacuation of the area before the mainshock struck. It is thought to be one of the few successfully predicted earthquakes in history.

The 1979 Ghaenat earthquakes were a series of large earthquakes in Qaen County, Khorasan Province, northeast Iran, near the Afghanistan border. The first mainshock, known as the Korizan earthquake with a surface wave magnitude (Ms ) of 6.6 and moment magnitude (Mw ) of 6.8, struck on November 14, while the Ms  7.1 or Mw  7.2 Koli-Boniabad earthquake struck on November 27. The two mainshocks were assigned a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe) and X (Extreme), respectively. The earthquakes caused extensive damage throughout northeastern Iran, killing an estimated 297 to 440 people and left at least 279 injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1695 Linfen earthquake</span> Earthquake in China

The 1695 Linfen earthquake struck Shanxi Province in North China, Qing dynasty on May 18. Occurring at a shallow depth within the continental crust, the surface-wave magnitude 7.8 earthquake had a maximum intensity of XI on the China seismic intensity scale and Mercalli intensity scale. This devastating earthquake affected over 120 counties across eight provinces of modern-day China. An estimated 52,600 people died in the earthquake, although the death toll may have been 176,365.

The 1998 Zhangbei–Shangyi earthquake occurred at 11:50 local time on 10 January with a moment magnitude of 5.7 at a depth of 14.1 km. It struck the province of Hebei in Zhangjiakou. At least 70 people died, 11,500 were injured and a further 44,000 families were homeless in the wake of the event. Damage was reported in the town of Zhangbei, Hebei Province, as well as to sections of the Great Wall of China.

The 1923 Renda earthquake occurred on March 24 at 20:40 local time between the counties of Daofu and Luhuo in Sichuan, China. The estimated Ms 7.3 earthquake was assigned a maximum modified Mercalli intensity scale rating of X (Extreme). Severe damage occurred in Sichuan, killing an estimated 4,800 people.

The 1969 Alaşehir earthquake occurred on March 28 at 03:48 local time near the city of Alaşehir in Turkey's Manisa Province. The Mw  6.8 earthquake struck at 10 km (6.2 mi) depth. It had a MSK 64 intensity of VIII (Destructive). At least 53 people were killed in the earthquake.

The 1933 Sumatra earthquake or Liwa earthquake occurred in West Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia on June 25. The earthquake had an estimated surface-wave magnitude (Ms ) of 7.7 occurring at a shallow depth of 20 km. It had an epicenter onshore, devastating the city of Liwa. At least 76 people were reported killed, although the death toll may have been in the thousands. Aftershocks followed, including one which was strong enough to cause additional fatalities. The mainshock also triggered a nearby volcanic eruption two weeks later, killing some people.

The 2003 Dayao earthquake occurred on July 21, at 23:16:33 CST. The epicenter of the moment magnitude 5.9 earthquake was in Dayao County in the mountainous area of central Yunnan, China. At least 19 people were killed, 644 were injured, and 8,406 families became homeless. The quake also caused $75 million USD in damage.

The 1979 Yapen earthquake occurred on September 12 at 05:17:51 UTC. It had an epicenter near the coast of Yapen Island in Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Measuring 7.5 on the moment magnitude scale and having a depth of 20 km (12 mi), it caused severe damage on the island. At least 115 were killed due to shaking and a moderate tsunami.

The 1977 Naghan earthquake struck Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in Iran on April 6 at 13:36 UTC. The earthquake measuring 6.0 Mw  occurred at a depth of 15 km (9.3 mi) and had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). More than 2,100 homes were destroyed and at least 348 people were killed.

The 1912 Acambay earthquake struck the State of Mexico on 19 November at 07:55 local time. It had a moment magnitude of 6.7–6.9 Mw  and an epicenter near the town of Acambay, 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Mexico City. Up to 161 people died and there was severe destruction. It is regarded as one of the most important earthquakes in Mexico's seismological history, having been widely studied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1940 Shakotan earthquake</span> Earthquake in Japan

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References

  1. ↑ ISC (27 June 2022), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), Version 9.1, International Seismological Centre
  2. ↑ Wen, XueZe; Du, Fang; Long, Feng; Fan, Jun; Zhu, Hang (2011). "Tectonic dynamics and correlation of major earthquake sequences of the Xiaojiang and Qujiang-Shiping fault systems, Yunnan, China". Science China Earth Sciences. 54 (10): 1563–1575. Bibcode:2011ScChD..54.1563W. doi:10.1007/s11430-011-4231-0. S2CID   131667346.
  3. ↑ Guo, Peng; Han, Zhujun; Dong, Shaopeng; Mao, Zebin; Hu, Nan; Gao, Fan; Li, Jiani (2021). "Latest Quaternary Active Faulting and Paleoearthquakes on the Southern Segment of the Xiaojiang Fault Zone, SE Tibetan Plateau". Lithosphere. 2021 (1). Bibcode:2021Lsphe202166379G. doi:10.2113/2021/7866379.
  4. ↑ Yu, Houyun; Zhang, Wenqiang; Zhang, Zhenguo; Li, Zhengbo; Chen, Xiaofei (2020). "Investigation on the Dynamic Rupture of the 1970 Ms 7.7 Tonghai, Yunnan, China, Earthquake on the Qujiang Fault" (PDF). Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 110 (2): 898–919. Bibcode:2020BuSSA.110..898Y. doi:10.1785/0120190185. S2CID   213502598.
  5. ↑ Sichuan Provincial Seismological Bureau (21 December 2021). "民国时期云南死亡超千人的地震，诞生我国第一篇地震专题考察报告" [An earthquake in Yunnan that killed more than 1,000 people during the Republic of China produced my country's first special earthquake investigation report]. Sohu (in Chinese). Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  6. ↑ National Geophysical Data Center (1972). "National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information". NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K.
  7. ↑ Chen, X. L.; Zhou, Q.; Ran, H.; Dong, R. (2012). "Earthquake-triggered landslides in southwest China". Natural Hazards and Earth System Science. 12 (2): 351–363. Bibcode:2012NHESS..12..351C. doi: 10.5194/nhess-12-351-2012 .
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