On July 28, 1976, at 3:42 AM, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the sleeping city of Tangshan, China. The official death toll was 242,469, making it the deadliest earthquake since modern seismic recording began.
Why was this earthquake so deadly? Learn about six factors that came together to create a worst case scenario.
⏱️ Timestamps
INTRODUCTION
00:00 – Welcome
00:18 – Topic Introduction
1976 EARTHQUAKE FACTS
00:35 –Tangshan in 1976
00:58 –Date, time, magnitude
01:21 – Deaths and Damage
WHY WAS THIS EARTHQUAKE SO DEADLY?
01:49 – Early morning; people were sleeping
02:20 – What is a survivable void?
02:56 – Shallow earthquake in urban area
03:18 – MMI X and XI shaking intensity
03:47 – Seismic hazard underestimated
04:07 – Unreinforced masonry buildings
04:35 – Sedimentary soils
05:07 – Liquefaction
05:23 – Damage hampered rescue operations
05:54 – Medical infrastructure destroyed
06:06 – Political turmoil
06:22 – International assistance declined
TURNING POINT IN SEISMIC SAFETY
06:55 – National seismic code in 1978
07:11 – Tangshan’s reconstruction
07:27 – Tangshan today
CLOSING
07:39 – Tangshan earthquake memorial
08:37 – Closing Message
📚 Learn More
🔗 QuakeFeed Substack: 1976 Tangshan Earthquake
https://quakefeed.substack.com/p/1976-tangshan-earthquake
🔗 Wikipedia: 1976 Tangshan Earthquake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Tangshan_earthquake
▶️ Original B/W Footage of the Aftermath of the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGom7kU7b7A
📱 Download QuakeFeed for Real-Time Alerts
Stay informed – get the QuakeFeed app now:
https://apps.apple.com/app/quakefeed-earthquake-alerts/id403037266
Want to view the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake on an interactive map that shows the epicenter and shaking intensity? Subscribe to QuakeFeed Premium for the full range of features – including Historical Earthquakes. It’s free for 30-days for first-time subscribers.
🌍 Connect with Us
Substack: https://quakefeed.substack.com
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@QuakeFeed
Instagram: https://instagram.com/QuakeFeed
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/QuakeFeed
🙌 Support the Show
If you found this episode helpful, please rate, review, and share it. Your support helps others stay informed and prepared.
🎵 Music By Soularflair
Bio on FMA: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/bio
CC-BY License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/