Local date | May 18, 1695 |
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Magnitude | Ms 7.8 |
Epicenter | 36°00′N 111°30′E / 36.0°N 111.5°E [1] |
Type | Intraplate |
Areas affected | Shanxi, Qing Dynasty |
Max. intensity | MMI XI (Extreme) |
Landslides | Yes |
Casualties | 52,600–176,365 dead |
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.