1556 Shaanxi earthquake

A major earthquake struck Shaanxi and neighboring provinces on January 23, 1556, causing catastrophic destruction and an estimated 830,000 deaths.

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Loess Plateau: A broad region of north-central China covered by thick deposits of windblown silt. Earthquake shaking destabilized the thick, collapsible soils beneath many affected settlements.
Earthquake: The sudden shaking of the ground caused by movement within Earth’s crust. The Shaanxi disaster was a destructive instance of this broader geophysical event.
Shaanxi: A province in north-central China, with Xi’an as its capital. Shaanxi was among the provinces most devastated by the earthquake.
1566 Shaanxi earthquake death toll: The estimated number of people killed in the 1556 earthquake and its aftermath. The often-cited estimate of about 830,000 deaths makes this the deadliest known earthquake.
Yaodong: A traditional cave dwelling excavated into loess slopes or built as an underground courtyard. Many residents lived in loess cave dwellings that could collapse during severe shaking.
Weinan: A city in Shaanxi Province, China, east of Xi’an. Historical accounts place severe destruction in and around Weinan.
Shanxi: A province in northern China, east of Shaanxi. The earthquake also caused substantial damage and loss of life in Shanxi.
Earthquake-induced landslide: A slope failure triggered or accelerated by earthquake shaking. Collapsed slopes and dwellings added to destruction across the affected terrain.
Earthquake engineering: The design of structures and infrastructure to withstand earthquake effects. The disaster illustrates how building form and ground conditions shape earthquake losses.
Huaxian: A county in Shaanxi Province, China, near the historically affected region. The earthquake is commonly associated with the Huaxian area in historical and geological accounts.