A sequence of three major earthquakes struck Sichuan, China in August 1976, notable for being successfully predicted months in advance, winning China's National Science and Technology Award.
Key Facts
- Death toll
- 38 dead, 800 total casualties
- Mainshock magnitudes (Ms)
- 7.0, 6.6, and 6.7 Ms scale
- Aftershocks (M3.0+)
- Over 400 between Aug 16–31
- Houses collapsed
- More than 5,000
- Maximum felt radius
- 1,150 km
- Prediction warning issued
- 3 months before the earthquake
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake-prone region of Songpan and Pingwu counties in Sichuan, China experienced a three-year earthquake swarm prior to August 1976. Short-term earthquake warnings were issued three months before the mainshocks, based on monitoring by the Earthquake Administration of Sichuan, allowing some precautionary measures to be taken in the affected area.
Three mainshocks struck on August 16, 21, and 23, 1976, with magnitudes of 7.0, 6.6, and 6.7 on the Ms scale. Four counties—Songpan, Pingwu, Maowen, and Nanping—were affected, and over 400 aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 or greater occurred through August 31. Shaking was felt across a radius of up to 1,150 kilometers.
The disaster killed 38 people directly, with total casualties reaching 800, mostly slightly injured due to mudslides. More than 5,000 houses collapsed and 2,800 livestock were lost. The Earthquake Administration of Sichuan was awarded the Chinese National Science and Technology Award in 1978 for its successful earthquake prediction.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 38 (earthquake)