One of the deadliest earthquakes in Chinese history, killing up to 273,407 people with maximum Mercalli intensity XII.
Key Facts
- Date
- December 16, 1920
- Death toll (low estimate)
- 258,707 people
- Death toll (high estimate)
- 273,407 people
- Mercalli intensity
- XII (Extreme)
- Epicenter
- Haiyuan County, Ningxia Province
- Local time of occurrence
- 19:05:53 UTC+8
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A major seismic rupture struck beneath Haiyuan County in what was then Gansu Province (now Ningxia) of the Republic of China on the evening of December 16, 1920. The precise tectonic mechanism involved faulting along one of the active fault systems crossing the Loess Plateau region of north-central China, an area of persistent seismic activity.
At 19:05:53 local time, the earthquake struck the Lijunbu–Haiyuan–Ganyanchi area and was assigned the maximum Mercalli intensity of XII (Extreme), indicating total destruction. The event was felt across a vast area and is recorded both as the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake and the 1920 Gansu earthquake, reflecting the administrative boundaries of the era.
Between 258,707 and 273,407 people were killed, placing the disaster among the deadliest earthquakes ever recorded in China and among the highest death-toll disasters in Chinese history. Widespread destruction across the affected counties left communities devastated, and the event drew international attention to the seismic hazards of north-central China.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 258,707 (earthquake)
Range: 258,707 – 273,407