2008 Sichuan, China Earthquake
Sichuan Province, China — May 12, 2008
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake was the deadliest natural disaster to strike China since 1976 and the strongest earthquake to hit the country since 1950. The disaster killed nearly 88,000 people and left millions homeless, particularly devastating poorly constructed school buildings.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M7.9
Date
May 12, 2008
Depth
19 km
Deaths
87,587
Latitude
31.002°
Longitude
103.322°
Tsunami
No
Region
Sichuan, China
Tectonic Cause
Thrust fault on the Longmen Shan fault system at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates drives crustal shortening that periodically ruptures in catastrophic events.
Aftermath in Pictures
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — open licenses (CC / Public Domain)
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under open licenses. Attribution required where specified. Click any image to enlarge.
Related Earthquakes in Sichuan, China
Sources & Further Reading
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