1786 Kangding-Luding earthquake
   | |
| Local date | June 1, 1786 |
|---|---|
| Local time | Midday[1] |
| Magnitude | 7.75 Mw[1] |
| Depth | 20 km (12 mi)[2] |
| Epicenter | 29°54′N 102°00′E / 29.9°N 102.0°E |
| Areas affected | Sichuan, Qing dynasty China |
| Max. intensity | MMI X (Extreme) |
| Landslides | Many |
| Casualties | 435 from the earthquake and about 100,000 from the failure of the landslide dam |
An
Tectonic setting
Sichuan lies within the complex zone of deformation associated with the continuing
Earthquake
An isoseismal map constructed for this earthquake shows that the zone of maximum shaking was elongated in a northwest–southeast direction, parallel to the trace of the Xianshuihe Fault. The magnitude of 7.5–8.0 has been estimated from the extent of the intensity VIII (Severe) zone. Remote sensing techniques, backed up by a field survey, identified a 70-kilometre (43 mi) long zone of surface fault rupture thought to be associated with the earthquake. The active fault segment has been identified as the Moxi Fault.[2]
Landslide dam
The earthquake triggered numerous landslides, one of which blocked the Dadu River, forming a temporary lake. The dam was about 70 metres (230 ft) high, holding back an estimated water volume of about 50,000,000 cubic metres (65,000,000 cu yd). By 9 June the lake had started to flow over the dam and an aftershock on 10 June caused the dam to collapse suddenly, releasing the impounded water and devastating areas downstream.[2] It is the second-deadliest landslide disaster on record, after the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake.[5]
Damage
The earthquake caused widespread damage in the epicentral area. The city walls at Kangding collapsed and severe damage to many houses and government buildings caused 250 casualties. In Luding County 181 people were killed in collapsed buildings. At both Qingxi and Yuexi, parts of the city walls were destroyed and many buildings were severely damaged, causing further casualties.[1]
The flood that resulted from the landslide dam failure reached the city of Leshan on 11 June, causing collapse of part of the city walls. Spectators who had gathered to watch the flood from the walls were thrown into the water. The destructive effects of the flood continued downstream at Yibin and Luzhou, with an estimated 100,000 people being killed overall. Local residents made a memorial tablet, describing these events, which is now kept at the Seismological Office in Luding.[2]
See also
References
- ^ doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ . Retrieved 2 December 2012.
- ^ Cole, S.; Xu Y. & Burton P.W. "Seismic hazard of the North-South Seismic Zone in China" (PDF). First European Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Seismology. pp. 1–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ^ Zhou, H.; Liu H. & Kanamori H. (1983). "Source processes of large earthquakes along the Xianshuihe Fault in southwestern China" (PDF). Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 73 (2). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
- ISBN 978-90-5809-393-6. Retrieved 30 November 2018.. p.66