2008 Wenchuan, China Earthquake
Wenchuan, Sichuan, China — May 12, 2008
The 2008 Wenchuan (Sichuan) earthquake was the deadliest natural disaster to strike China since 1976 and the strongest earthquake to hit the country since 1950. Nearly 88,000 people died and 375,000 were injured. The collapse of thousands of schools — dubbed "tofu-dreg schoolhouses" — sparked national outrage over construction quality.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M7.9
Date
May 12, 2008
Depth
19 km
Deaths
87,587
Latitude
31.002°
Longitude
103.322°
Tsunami
No
Region
Wenchuan, China
Tectonic Cause
Thrust fault along the Longmen Shan fault system at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The fault had not ruptured for approximately 4,000 years, allowing substantial stress to accumulate.
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.
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Sources & Further Reading
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