2008 Sichuan earthquake

A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China, on May 12, 2008. It killed tens of thousands and caused widespread destruction, especially in the Longmenshan region.

Longmenshan Fault: A major fault system along the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau in Sichuan, China. The earthquake ruptured a long section of this fault system.
Beichuan County: A county in Sichuan whose urban center was devastated by the 2008 earthquake. Beichuan became one of the most visible sites of destruction and loss.
Wenchuan earthquake: The common Chinese name for the earthquake that struck Sichuan on May 12, 2008. It names the same event from its nearby epicentral county.
Wen Jiabao: Chinese politician who served as premier from 2003 to 2013. Wen visited affected areas and became a prominent public figure in the emergency response.
Dujiangyan: A city in Sichuan near the Longmenshan range, affected by the 2008 earthquake. Severe damage there illustrated the earthquake’s effects beyond the epicentral counties.
Sichuan Basin: A large sedimentary basin in eastern Sichuan, China, bordered by mountain ranges. The basin’s location east of the rupture shaped how shaking affected populated areas.
Wenchuan County: A county in Sichuan near the epicentral region of the 2008 earthquake. The earthquake’s epicenter was near Wenchuan, giving the event its Chinese name.
2008 Sichuan earthquake aftershocks: Earthquakes that followed the main shock as the crust adjusted to the 2008 Sichuan rupture. A prolonged aftershock sequence continued to threaten affected communities.
Hu Jintao: Chinese politician who served as president from 2003 to 2013. Hu directed national-level response efforts as China’s president.
Mianzhu: A county-level city in Sichuan that suffered extensive damage in the 2008 earthquake. Mianzhu was among the hardest-hit communities in the disaster zone.

Linked from 5 pages