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/