1695 Linfen earthquake

1695 Linfen earthquake
1695 Linfen earthquake is located in China
1695 Linfen earthquake
Local dateMay 18, 1695 (1695-05-18)
MagnitudeMs 7.8
Epicenter36°00′N 111°30′E / 36.0°N 111.5°E / 36.0; 111.5 [1]
TypeIntraplate
Areas affectedShanxi, Qing Dynasty
Max. intensityMMI XI (Extreme)
LandslidesYes
Casualties52,600–176,365 dead
Map of the Shanxi Rift System along the eastern margin of the Ordos Block

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.

  1. ^ National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS) (1972), Significant Earthquake Database (Data Set), National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K