1920 Haiyuan earthquake

1920 Haiyuan earthquake
UTC time1920-12-16 12:05:55
ISC event912687
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateDecember 16, 1920 (1920-12-16)
(Gansu-Sichuan Time)
Local time19:05
MagnitudeMw 7.9
Epicenter36°30′N 105°42′E / 36.50°N 105.70°E / 36.50; 105.70
FaultHaiyuan Fault
Max. intensityMMI XII (Extreme)
Landslides>50,000
Casualties258,707~273,407

The 1920 Haiyuan earthquake (Chinese: 海原大地震; pinyin: Hǎiyuán dà dìzhèn) occurred on December 16 in Haiyuan County, Ningxia Province, Republic of China at 19:05:53. It was also called the 1920 Gansu earthquake because Ningxia was a part of Gansu Province when the earthquake occurred. It caused destruction in the Lijunbu-Haiyuan-Ganyanchi area and was assigned the maximum intensity on the Mercalli intensity scale (XII Extreme). Estimates of the death toll range from 258,707 to 273,407, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in China and disasters in China by death toll.