1923 Renda earthquake

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1923 Renda earthquake
China Sichuan adm location map.svg
Bullseye1.png
UTC  time1923-03-24 12:40:17
ISC  event 911322
USGS-ANSS ComCat
Local dateMarch 24, 1923
Local time20:40:06 CST
Magnitude Ms 7.3 [1]
Depth15 km
Epicenter 31°17′42″N100°45′00″E / 31.295°N 100.750°E / 31.295; 100.750
Fault Xianshuihe fault system
Type Strike-slip
Areas affectedSichuan, China
Max. intensity CSIS X

MMI X (Extreme)
LandslidesYes
Casualties4,800 dead

The 1923 Renda earthquake occurred on March 24 at 20:40 local time between the counties of Daofu and Luhuo in Sichuan, China. The estimated Ms 7.3 earthquake was assigned a maximum modified Mercalli intensity scale rating of X (Extreme). Severe damage occurred in Sichuan, killing an estimated 4,800 people.

Contents

Tectonic setting

Western Sichuan is situated at the edge of the Tibetan Plateau in a vast zone of complex continental deformation caused by the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. As the thrusting of the Indian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate along the Himalayas continues, the continental crust within the Eurasian Plate is actively uplifted and thickened, forming the Tibetan Plateau. As there are no active thrust structures within the plateau, compression is accommodated by strike-slip motion along large structures including the Altyn Tagh Fault, Kunlun Fault, Haiyuan Fault and Xianshuihe fault system. Left-lateral strike-slip motion squeezes the crustal blocks of the Tibetan Plateau outwards, forcing it to move eastwards. Meanwhile, the strike-slip motion also results in east–west extension of the plateau, causing normal faults to break within the thickened crust. [2] [3]

Earthquake

The Xianshuihe fault system is a 1,400-km-long active left-lateral strike-slip fault that accommodate the strike-slip motion in the Tibetan Plateau. The fault is one of the largest active intracontinental geological structure in the world. Beginning in 1893, at least 350 km of the fault length has ruptured in large successive earthquakes with magnitudes 6.5 or larger. [4] Going back to the year 1700 to present-day, the fault has ruptured its entire 1,400 km length during large earthquakes. [5]

A 60-kilometer-long surface rupture formed after the earthquake between Daofu and Renda. The immediate region around the surface rupture was also the meizoseismal area where the maximum intensity was X. The northwest extent of the rupture overlaps the eventual southeastern rupture zone of the 1973 Luhuo earthquake. Meanwhile, the farthest southeast rupture overlaps the northwest rupture extent of the 1981 Dawu earthquake. A maximum coseismic slip of 3.3 meters was measured near the village of Dazhai, while the average slip across the rupture was 3.0 meters. Coulomb stress transfer may have increased strain on the segment north of the 1923 earthquake rupture, causing it to fail during the 1973 earthquake. [1]

Damage

In Luhuo county, the city's defensive walls toppled to the ground. Many homes, official buildings, and places of worship were totally destroyed. Avalanches and landslides occurred on the mountains. Fissures measuring up to 2 meters across appeared in the ground. The death toll is in excess of 3,000 people. [6]

Two villages in Dawu county were razed to the ground; none left standing. An estimated 500 people were killed in the county. Several residents died in Qianning while many homes and schools were lost. At Kangding, at least 1,300 people died during a severe rockfall. Many temples suffered partial collapses whils poorly-constructed homes were destroyed. Damage to homes was also reported in Garzê Town, Xinlong and Litang. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1920 Haiyuan earthquake</span> 1920 earthquake in central China

The 1920 Haiyuan earthquake 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. About 258,707-273,407 died, making it one of the most fatal earthquakes in China, in turn making it one of the worst disasters in China by death toll.

The 2000 Yunnan earthquake occurred on January 14 at 23:37 UTC, in Yunnan, China. The earthquake killed 7 people, and caused much damage in central Yunnan Province.

The 1981 Dawu earthquake occurred on 24 January at 5:13 a.m. CST, in Sichuan, China. Registering a surface wave magnitude of 6.8, the earthquake killed about 150 people and injured roughly 300 more. It caused comprehensive damage within close range of its epicenter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1927 Gulang earthquake</span> 1927 severe earthquake centered near Gulang, Gansu Province, China

The 1927 Gulang earthquake occurred at 06:32 a.m. on 23 May. This 7.6 magnitude event had an epicenter near Gulang, Gansu in the Republic of China. There were 40,912 deaths. It was felt up to 700 km (435 mi) away.

The 1932 Changma earthquake occurred at 10:04:27 local time on 25 December. With an estimated magnitude of 7.6 on the surface wave magnitude scale, and a maximum felt intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale, the quake destroyed 1,167 houses and caused 275 to 70,000 deaths and 320 injuries.

An earthquake occurred on 1 June 1786 in and around Kangding, in what is now China's Sichuan province. It had an estimated magnitude of about 7.75 and a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. The initial quake killed 435 people. After an aftershock ten days later, a further 100,000 died when a landslide dam collapsed across the Dadu river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xianshuihe fault system</span> Geological feature in Asia

The Xianshuihe fault system or the Yushu-Ganzi-Xianshuihe fault system is a major active sinistral (left-lateral) strike-slip fault zone in southwestern China, at the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. It has been responsible for many major earthquakes, and is one of the most seismically active fault zones in China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haiyuan Fault</span> Intracontinental strike-slip fault in Tibet

The Haiyuan Fault is a major active intracontinental strike-slip (sinistral) fault in Central Asia.

The 1973 Luhuo earthquake struck near the town of Zhaggo in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China on February 6, 1973, with a magnitude of 7.6 Ms. The earthquake had a maximum intensity of X (Extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. It resulted in between 2,175 and 2,204 deaths and a further 2,743 injuries. Serious and widespread destruction occurred in Luhuo County.

The 2021 Maduo earthquake, also known as the 5.22 earthquake struck Madoi County in Qinghai Province, China on 22 May at 02:04 local time. The earthquake had a moment magnitude and surface-wave magnitude of 7.4. Highway bridges, roads and walls collapsed as a result of the earthquake. According to an anonymous source, at least 20 people were killed, 300 were injured, and 13 were missing. Officials stated that there were no deaths but 19 people sustained minor injuries. It was the strongest in China since 2008. It was assigned a maximum intensity of X in Machali, Maduo County on the China seismic intensity scale and Modified Mercalli intensity scale. This earthquake was preceded by another unrelated earthquake that occurred 5 hours earlier in Yunnan.

The 2020 Qiaojia earthquake occurred in Yunnan, China, 42 km west of Zhaotong on May 18, 21:48 local time. The moment magnitude 5.1 quake occurred at a depth of 10 km. Various buildings were damaged, and one house collapsed in Zhaoyang District. Four people were killed while 24 people were injured.

The 2021 Luxian earthquake was a damaging seismic event occurring in the early hours of September 16 at 04:33 China Standard Time. The surface wave magnitude (Ms ) 6.0 or moment magnitude (Mw ) 5.4 earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 7.5 km and severe shaking in an area of 4,000 square kilometers was assigned a maximum intensity of VIII on the China seismic intensity scale. Three people were killed and 146 injured when the earthquake struck Lu County, Luzhou, Sichuan Province. At least 36,800 buildings were affected, 7,800 of them seriously damaged or completely destroyed, causing about a quarter of a billion dollars worth of damage.

An earthquake occurred on June 19, 1718, in Tongwei County, Gansu Province, Qing dynasty, present-day China. The estimated surface wave magnitude (Ms ) 7.5 earthquake was designated a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), causing tremendous damage and killing 73,000 people.

The 1850 Xichang earthquake rocked Sichuan Province of Qing China on September 12. The earthquake which caused major damage in Xichang county had an estimated moment magnitude of 7.3–7.9 Mw  and a surface wave magnitude of 7.5–7.7 Ms . An estimated 20,650 people died.

The 1654 Tianshui earthquake occurred on July 21 in Tianshui, Gansu Province, Ming dynasty sometime between 21:00 and 23:00 local time. The event had an estimated moment magnitude of 7.0 and was assigned a maximum intensity of XI on the China seismic intensity scale. Resulting in extreme damage and affecting at least four provinces, the quake killed approximately 30,000 people.

The 1955 Zheduotang earthquake, also known as the Kangding earthquake occurred on April 14 at 09:29:02 local time near the city of Kangding in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan. The earthquake had a moment magnitude of 7.0 and a surface wave magnitude of 7.1 and struck at a depth of 10 km. Severe damage occurred in Kangding with the loss of 70 lives.

The 2003 Dayao earthquake occurred on July 21, at 23:16:33 CST. The epicenter of the moment magnitude 5.9 earthquake was in Dayao County in the mountainous area of central Yunnan, China. At least 19 people were killed, 644 were injured, and 8,406 families became homeless. The quake also caused $75 million USD in damage.

On April 11, 1870, a moment magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Batang County in Sichuan, China. The earthquake had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The earthquake and a large fire resulted in between 2,300 and 5,000 fatalities.

On 23 December 1738 the province of Qinghai was struck by an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.6 Mw. It ruptured the westernmost part of the Xianshuihe fault system, the Dangjiang segment. It led to 261–500 deaths.

On 20 March 1536, Xichang and Mianning, Sichuan, Ming dynasty, were struck by an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.3 Ms. It had a maximum felt intensity of X (Extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale, and caused thousands of deaths.

References

  1. 1 2 Yang Jianbing; Zhao Bin; Du Ruilin; Yu Jiansheng; Wang Dongzhen (2020). "1923年仁达地震与1973年炉霍地震的破裂模型及触发关系研究" [Research on the Rupture Model and Trigger Relationship of Renda Earthquake in 1923 and Luhuo Earthquake in 1973]. Geodesy and Geodynamics (in Chinese). 40 (8): 783–789. doi:10.14075/j.jgg.2020.08.003.
  2. ↑ Elliott, J. R.; Walters, R. J.; England, P. C.; Jackson, J. A.; Li, Z.; Parsons, B. (2010). "Extension on the Tibetan plateau: recent normal faulting measured by InSAR and body wave seismology". Geophysical Journal International. 183 (2): 503–535. Bibcode:2010GeoJI.183..503E. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04754.x . S2CID   134590278.
  3. ↑ Weijun Gan; Peizhen Zhang; Zheng-Kang Shen; Zhijun Niu; Min Wang; Yongge Wan; Demin Zhou; Jia Cheng (2007). "Present-day crustal motion within the Tibetan Plateau inferred from GPS measurements". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 112 (B8). American Geophysical Union. Bibcode:2007JGRB..112.8416G. doi: 10.1029/2005JB004120 .
  4. ↑ Eleftheria Papadimitriou; Xueze Wen; Vassilios Karakostas; Xueshen Jin (2004). "Earthquake Triggering along the Xianshuihe Fault Zone of Western Sichuan, China". Pure and Applied Geophysics. 161 (8): 1683–1707. Bibcode:2004PApGe.161.1683P. doi:10.1007/s00024-003-2471-4. S2CID   129325246.
  5. ↑ Mingkun Bai; Marie-Luce Chevalier; Jiawei Pan; Anne Replumaz; Philippe Hervé Leloup; Marianne Métois; Haibing Li (2018). "Southeastward increase of the late Quaternary slip-rate of the Xianshuihe fault, eastern Tibet. Geodynamic and seismic hazard implications". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 485: 19–31. Bibcode:2018E&PSL.485...19B. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2017.12.045.
  6. 1 2 "Significant Earthquake Information". ngdc.noaa.gov. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
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