Tangshan: The Deadliest Earthquake

by Jennifer Rosenberg
Updated March 03, 2017

At 3:42 a.m. on July 28, 1976, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the sleeping city of Tangshan, in northeastern China. The very large earthquake, striking an area where it was totally unexpected, obliterated the city of Tangshan and killed over 240,000 people - making it the deadliest earthquake of the twentieth century.

Fireballs and Animals Give Warning

Though scientific earthquake prediction is in its nascent stages, nature often gives some advance warning of an impending earthquake.

In a village outside of Tangshan, well water reportedly rose and fell three times the day before the earthquake. In another village, gas began to spout out the water well on July 12 and then increased on July 25th and 26th. Other wells throughout the area showed signs of cracking.

Animals also gave a warning that something was about to happen. One thousand chickens in Baiguantuan refused to eat and ran around excitedly chirping. Mice and yellow weasels were seen running around looking for a place to hide. In one household in the city of Tangshan, a goldfish began jumping wildly in its bowl. At 2 a.m. on July 28, shortly before the earthquake struck, the goldfish jumped out of its bowl. Once its owner had returned him to his bowl, the goldfish continued to jump out of its bowl until the earthquake hit.

Strange? Indeed. These were isolated incidents, spread across a city of a million people and a countryside scattered with villages.

But nature gave additional warnings.

The night preceding the earthquake, July 27-28, many people reported seeing strange lights as well as loud sounds. The lights were seen in a multitude of hues. Some people saw flashes of light; others witnessed fireballs flying across the sky. Loud, roaring noises followed the lights and fireballs.

Workers at the Tangshan airport described the noises as louder than that of an airplane.

The Earthquake Strikes

When the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Tangshan at 3:42 a.m. on July 28, over a million people lay sleeping, unaware of the disaster that was to befall them. As the earth began to shake, a few people who were awake had the forethought to dive under a table or other heavy piece of furniture, but most were asleep and did not have time. The entire earthquake lasted approximately 14 to 16 seconds.

Once the quake was over, the people who could, scrambled out into the open, only to see the entire city levelled. After an initial period of shock, the survivors began to dig through debris to answer the muffled calls for help as well as find loved ones still under rubble. As injured people were saved from under the rubble, they were lain on the side of the road. Many of the medical personnel were also trapped under debris or killed by the earthquake. The medical centers were destroyed as well as the roads to get there.

Survivors were faced with no water, no food, and no electricity.

All but one of the roads into Tangshan was undrivable. Unfortunately, relief workers accidentally clogged the one remaining road, leaving them and their supplies stuck for hours in the traffic jam.

People needed help immediately; survivors could not wait for help to arrive. Survivors formed groups to dig for others. They set up medical areas where emergency procedures were conducted with the minimum of supplies. They searched for food and set up temporary shelters.

Though 80 percent of the people trapped under rubble were saved, a 7.1 magnitude aftershock that hit in the afternoon of July 28 sealed the fate for many who had been waiting under the rubble for help.

After the earthquake hit, 242,419 people lay dead or dying, along with another 164,581 people who were severely injured. In 7,218 households, all members of the family were killed by the earthquake.

Corpses were buried quickly, usually close to the residences in which they perished. This later caused health problems, especially after it rained and the bodies were again exposed.

Workers had to find these impromptu graves, dig up the bodies, and then move and rebury the corpses outside of the city.

Damage and Recovery

Before the 1976 earthquake, scientists didn't think Tangshan was susceptible to a large earthquake; thus, the area was zoned an intensity level of VI on the Chinese intensity scale (similar to the Mercalli scale). The 7.8 earthquake that hit Tangshan was given an intensity level of XI (out of XII). The buildings in Tangshan were not built to withstand such a large earthquake.

Ninety-three percent of residential buildings and 78 percent of industrial buildings were completely destroyed.

Eighty percent of the water pumping stations were seriously damaged and the water pipes were damaged throughout the city. Fourteen percent of the sewage pipes were severely damaged.

The foundations of bridges gave way, causing the bridges to collapse. Railroad lines bent. Roads were covered with debris as well as riddled with fissures.

With so much damage, recovery was not easy. Food was a high priority. Some food was parachuted in, but the distribution was uneven. Water, even just for drinking, was extremely scarce. Many people drank out of pools or other locations that had become contaminated during the earthquake. Relief workers eventually got water trucks and others to transport clean drinking water into the affected areas.

After the emergency care was given, the rebuilding of Tangshan began almost immediately. Though it took time, the entire city was rebuilt and is again home to over a million people, earning Tangshan the name "Brave City of China."

Notes

1. Chen Yong, et al, The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976: An Anatomy of Disaster (New York: Pergamon Press, 1988) 53.
2. Yong, Great Tangshan 53.
3. Yong, Great Tangshan 70.

Bibliography
Ash, Russell. The Top 10 of Everything, 1999. New York: DK Publishing, Inc., 1998.
Yong, Chen, et al. The Great Tangshan Earthquake of 1976: An Anatomy of Disaster.
New York: Pergamon Press, 1988.

What Changes Has the Tangshan Earthquake Brought About?

On the 30th anniversary of the Tangshan earthquake, a Workers' Daily article points out the Tangshan earthquake has also taught important lessons that can be carried forward in the future.

After a 7.8 Richter scale earthquake shook the northern industrial city of Tangshan on July 28th 1976, the "Tangshan spirit" became known nationwide. The unity of the local people, as well as their selfless, industrious and indomitable spirit, helped Tangshan's reconstruction process proceed rapidly. In less than a month after the earthquake, water and power supplies and transport and telecommunications links were all restored in the disaster-stricken areas.

The article says although local people suffered from the tragic experience, the earthquake was a driving force that led to more rapid strides in economic development. Tangshan also won the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment.

In addition, groups of scientists have come to Tangshan for geological studies in order to gather experiences and learn how to defend and better protect people in future earthquake disasters. They believe gathering knowledge about earthquakes will help reduce losses.

They have made great progress in earthquake forecasting methods. With new technology, humans may be able to use satellites to monitor potential earthquake activity, thereby avoiding disasters.

Chinese seismology studies are now quickly developing. Summarizing experiences and lessons in tackling earthquakes, seismologists have proposed a new combined study establishing a theory base and framework for seismology and sociology.
 

1976: Chinese earthquake kills hundreds of thousands

Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead following an 8.3 magnitude earthquake in China.
The quake has virtually destroyed the city of Tangshan, north-east of Beijing, and Western sources believe the death toll may be much higher than the official figure of 240,000. Some believe the figure is more like 750,000.

The Hong Kong Royal Observatory reports the earthquake was intense although speculation of the magnitude of the quake ranges from 6.3 to 8.3.

Around 2,000 people are believed to have died when the quake devastated the city's biggest hospital, according to sources quoting Chinese officials.

  
Any grave natural disaster can be overcome with the guidance of Chairman Mao.

Spokesman for the Red Flag journal

It is feared that many miners are buried alive in coal works in the industrial city, which has a total population of 1.6m.

Diplomatic observers say that up to 80,000 people died in the first shock of the natural disaster.

Up to 164,000 people have been severely injured, according to initial reports from the city.

Tangshan was at the epicentre of the earthquake, although it badly damaged Tientsin. Tremors were also felt in Beijing, where residents were urged to live in the streets and keep to open spaces as it is not thought to be safe to return to their homes in the city.

The force of the quake has been so strong that people are reported to have been thrown into the air after roads, bridges, railway stations, homes and factories were completely destroyed.

The quake has also knocked out power throughout the city, making rescue efforts difficult.

When the earthquake struck Tangshan at 0342 local time, more than a million people lay sleeping. The entire earthquake reportedly lasted approximately 14 to 16 seconds. It was followed by a 7.1 magnitude aftershock.

Survivors have been digging through debris to answer the calls for help as well as find missing relatives.

There is a deep-seated peasant belief that the "Year of the Dragon" - which happens every 12 years - augurs ill.

The survivors of the Tangshan quake are living in tents and are expected to be moved to winter shelters, the New China news agency has reported. Aircraft and lorries have been taking large quantities of relief supplies to help the relief effort.

The authorities later hope to move people to simple houses, which can withstand tremors and are warm and rainproof before winter sets in.

Chinese officials have rejected any offers of help from the outside world, saying that survivors have enough to eat and wear and there are sufficient medical supplies and doctors in the city.Officially, the Chinese government estimated between 240,000 and 250,000 people died in the Tangshan earthquake.
The rebuilding of Tangshan began almost immediately after the earthquake and eventually the entire city was rebuilt. It is now home to more than a million people - earning it the name "Brave City of China."

In the decades since the quake, the death toll is estimated closer to half a million although some believe it is higher still. This would make this the most deadly quake in the twentieth century, and the strongest since the Alaska quake in 1964 which was of magnitude 9.2.

More people died in earthquakes in the first 10 months of 1976 than in any year since 1970.

During 1976, there were a string of tremors, stretching from China to Greece, which Swedish expert Dr Marcus Baath believes may be a signal of new movement in the Earth's crust.

In August 1976, a new earthquake measuring 6.9 was reported 250 miles north of Chungking, which is around 1,000 miles from Tangshan.