The earthquake gained notable scientific attention due to the triggering of over 300 large landslides. Many of these slides consisted of several meters of loess and mudstone deposits along steep mountainsides near the Wei River. Three of the largest landslides in Pan'an, Tianshui, Gangu County, had a combined volume of 6.06 × 108 m3.[6] Locating the distribution of landslides using Google Earth found a dense concentration of occurrence along the Tongwei Fault.[5]
Damage
All structures including government offices, schools, temples, and homes in
landslides buried many homes in the area. Ground effects were severe; large fissures appeared and the landscape was deformed.[2]
A large landslide completely buried Yongning Ancient Town during the quake.
Confucian Temples and homes. Ground fissures and landslides killed some residents. Smaller fatality figures were reported in other parts of Gansu Province. The earthquake also affected Shaanxi and Henan provinces.[2]