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Home » Earthquakes » Eastern Sichuan, China Earthquake Eastern Sichuan, China Earthquake - Maps, Video, News Magnitude 7.9 - May 12, 2008 - Information as Reported by USGS China Earthquake Sichuan Earthquake Summary: A magnitude 7.9 earthquake occurred in the Eastern Sichuan area of western China on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 2:28 PM local time. It occurred at a depth of about 19 kilometers (11.8 miles). The earthquake destroyed numerous communities, leaving an estimated five million people without housing. Severe damage was caused by landslides which dammed rivers and flooded lands upstream. The government estimated that about 70,000 people were killed as a direct result of the earthquake. Disease and hunger are expected to claim thousands of lives for months after the earthquake because supplies of food and clean drinking water have been damaged. The earthquake was felt throughout China and in parts of Bangladesh, India, Japan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Numerous strong after shocks caused extensive damage collapsing thousands of homes and killing thousands of people. USGS Tectonic Summary: The Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, occurred as the result of motion on a northeast striking reverse fault or thrust fault on the northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin. The earthquake's epicenter and focal-mechanism are consistent with it having occurred as the result of movement on the Longmenshan fault or a tectonically related fault. The earthquake reflects tectonic stresses resulting from the convergence of crustal material slowly moving from the high Tibetan Plateau, to the west, against strong crust underlying the Sichuan Basin and southeastern China. On a continental scale, the seismicity of central and eastern Asia is a result of northward convergence of the India plate against the Eurasia plate with a velocity of about 50 mm/y. The convergence of the two plates is broadly accommodated by the uplift of the Asian highlands and by the motion of crustal material to the east away from the uplifted Tibetan Plateau. The northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin has previously experienced destructive earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake of August 25, 1933, killed more than 9,300 people. USGS Intensity Estimates MMI City Population VIII Jiangyou 127k VIII Tianpeng 60k VII Deyang 152k VII Linqiong 55k VII Chengdu 3950k VII Mianyang 264k VII Guangyuan 213k VI Tongchuan 58k VI Zengjiahe 1k VI Dongxichang 4k VI Nanlong 63k VI Langzhong 60k V Pujichang 2k V Leshan 154k V Changchi 1k V Xialianghekou 1k V Ziyang 87k V Gaoping 204k V Hanzhong 145k V Chonglong 58k V Suining 124k V Luocheng 73k V Nanchong 7150k V Neijiang 546k V Zigong 689k V Hechuan 97k V Beidao 74k V Daxian 130k V Yongchuan 94k V Chongqing 3967k V Yibin 242k V Lanzhou 3200k V Jiangjin 61k V Guozhen 85k V Xunchang 64k V Xichang 126k V Beibei 112k IV Yudong 81k IV Wanxian 188k IV Xianyang 1034k IV Yuxia 60k IV Linxia 202k IV Puhechang 1k IV Changsha 1k IV Fubaochang 3k IV Xiantanchang 1k IV Caijiagang 2k IV Fuling 166k IV Pingliang 108k IV Guandu 2k IV Guofuchang 1k IV Shijiaochang 2k IV Weinan 172k IV Dongxi 7k IV Zhaotong 109k IV Ganshui 5k IV Sanchahe 1k IV Chumi 3k IV Taipingdu 3k IV Liangcunchang 1k IV Lichuan 72k IV Wenshui 5k IV Sangmu 1k IV Lintong 75k IV Weining 56k IV Songkan 4k IV Enshi 95k IV Yanliang 60k IV Xinzhan 2k IV Bijie 77k IV Huaqiuba 1k IV Baiyin 188k IV Loushanguan 80k IV Tongchuan 223k IV Hancheng 58k IV Zunyi 466k IV Laohekou 253k IV Panzhihua 461k IV Jinshi 82k IV Gucheng 74k IV Danjiangkou 92k IV Anshun 351k IV Shiyan 408k IV Nanzhang 83k IV Shiyan 3460k IV Zhicheng 159k IV Xining 767k IV Dengzhou 59k IV Xiangfan 462k IV Jishou 102k IV Zhijiang 60k IV Jinhe 3k IV Xujiaba 3k IV Xinye 61k IV Youyupu 1k IV Yicheng 61k IV Chadian 1k IV Yuncheng 201k IV Ankang 132k IV Jingzhou 177k IV Nanmuping 1k IV Buhe 106k IV Dabachang 1k IV Linfen 232k IV Yichang 476k IV Anping 2k IV Shiqian 9k IV Changde 517k IV Huaihua 127k IV Qujing 146k IV Yanmen 1k IV Yima 82k IV Tongwan 2k IV Luojiu 2k IV Zhangjiajie 86k IV Anxiang 57k IV Maoping 1k IV Tanwan 1k IV Bahuang 1k IV Lantian 1k IV Huomachong 1k IV Shanmen 3k IV Jingmen 167k IV Tongren 90k IV Chatian 1k IV Dali 134k IV Xinzhi 72k IV Zhushi 2k IV Zhujiachang 1k IV Ma'an 1k IV Yangtou 1k IV Duyun 91k IV Shuidatian 1k IV Yiyang 202k IV Xiaoweizhai 58k IV Qinglang 2k IV Guiyang 1171k IV Runsonglaozhai 1k IV Yaoshi 1k IV Bozhou 1k IV Jiangkouxu 1k IV Loudi 150k IV Changzhi 699k IV Lanli 1k IV Huangtukuang 1k IV Zhongzhai 1k IV Xiaolongmen 1k IV Huaqiao 2k IV Bangdong 1k IV Luyang 3k IV Lianyuan 66k IV Biyong 1k IV Zhongfang 1k IV Gaoniang 2k IV Xianrenwan 1k IV Darong 1k IV Tuokou 2k IV Qiaojiang 3k IV Baishi 1k IV Huangxikou 1k IV Longtou'an 2k IV Qiancheng 9k IV Yongfeng 70k IV Ouyang 1k IV Shuangxi 1k IV Jiangshi 1k IV Shijiang 9k IV Dongshan Dongzuxiang 1k IV Gangdong 1k IV Qimeng 1k IV Liangyaping 1k IV Xiaohenglong 1k IV Benchu 1k IV Hengbanqiao 1k IV Pingjiang 1k IV Anjiang 55k IV Puzi 1k IV Gaowu 1k IV Dabaozi 1k IV Aoshi 1k IV Hongzhou 1k IV Tonggu 1k IV Huangmaoyuan 1k IV Hongjiang 59k IV Dengyuantai 2k IV Longlisuo 2k IV Longtan 2k IV Gaoyi 1k IV Xiaoshajiang 2k IV Guilin 649k IV Ruoshui 1k IV Xixi 2k IV Huangjinjing 1k IV Wantouqiao 1k IV Shuiche 3k IV Tingdong 1k IV Jinshiqiao 1k IV Pukou 1k IV Simenqian 5k IV Pingjiang 1k IV Xiajiang 1k IV Huayuan 1k IV Dundong 1k IV Zhuzhoujiang Miaozuxiang 1k IV Zhongchao 2k IV Liuduzhai 8k IV Gaozeng 1k IV Boyang 1k IV Tangjiafang 1k IV Xianxi 2k IV Lengshuijiang 115k IV Shuangjiang 8k IV Shangmei 75k IV Wuyang 2k IV Jiangfang 1k IV Zhaishi Miaozudongzuxiang 3k IV Huangqiao 2k IV Maoping 2k IV Xishan 1k IV Yatunpu 1k IV Hexiangqiao 4k IV Lixiqiao 1k IV Linkou 2k IV Dengjiapu 2k IV Xiyan 3k IV Lengshuitanqu 88k IV Qingxi 1k IV Gaoqiao 1k IV Hongqiao 58k IV Malin 2k IV Baisha 2k IV Huanglong 1k IV Qingjiangqiao 1k IV Yaoshi 1k IV Qiyang 66k Most Recent Reuters Special Coverage: Regular updates on the Sichuan earthquake. Animated Map of Aftershocks: See an animation of where and when the aftershocks occurred. "Quake Lakes" Present Threat: Landslides have blocked rivers to create fast-rising lakes. Troops are working to dig diversion canals, while nearby residents are prepared for possible evacuation. China Earthquake Videos China Earthquake Aftermath: CNN's Hugh Riminton talks about his experiences as a reporter covering the Sichuan earthquake. Rural Quake Survivors' Struggle: Some farms and small towns affected by the earthquake are still inaccessible to rescue workers, or are being overlooked. News Reports & More Landslides Dam 21 Rivers: Natural, unstable dams now hold large amounts of impounded water and present a flood risk. Aftershock Epicenters: They cluster in a line along the edge of the Longmen Shan mountain range. What does it mean? Schools at Risk: The recent quake in China rings the bell for earthquake saftey in all schools worldwide. Scenic Valley in Ruin: This article talks about some of the landslide damage in Sichuan. Post-Quake Photos: A gallery with many images of the earthquake's aftermath. WHO Warns of Disease Risk: Contaminated drinking water, food and a lack of sanitary conditions are a problem. Two Stages of Faulting: Japanese scientists say that failure happened in stages, leading to wide-reaching damage. China Earthquake From NPR: Articles and podcasts related to the Sichuan earthquake. USGS Earthquake Report: Includes quake details, summary, maps, and scientific information. Sichuan Earthquake: Updated earthquake news from CNN. Olympic Chiefs Say: 'Beijing is Safe'.: Athletes and visitors have no need to worry about safety at the games. Beijing at Its Best in Response...:   The response of the Chinese government contrasts sharply with what happened recently in Burma. Wikipedia Entry: A detailed account of the earthquake in the free online encyclopedia. China Map: Political map and Landsat satellite image. China Earthquake Maps USGS Location Map:     The earthquake occurred in the Eastern Sichuan area of western China. Intensity Contour Map:     USGS Map of MMI contours plotted over population per ˜1 square km (see gray scale bar on top of map). The regions of integer MMI values are separated by the thick contour lines and labeled with Roman numerals. Landslide Damage Earthquake Induced Landslides: Satellite image showing hundreds of landslides that were triggered by the event.  These slides wiped out thousands of homes, killed thousands of people and blocked rivers with at lease 30 unstable dams.  The river running through the image is Min Jiang. In these false-color images, red indicates vegetation; blue-gray indicates bare ground, buildings, and paved areas; and deep blue indicates water.  NASA Image – about 90 miles from the epicenter. Aftershock Alignment Aftershocks align along the northeast-southwest trending fault revealing the tremendous energy accumulated prior to the earthquake. Map by USGS. NASA Article. Population Exposure Population Intensity Exposure:     A USGS summary of the number of people exposed to different intensity levels. (* Estimated exposure. Not calculated for lowest intensities.)

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