EARTHQUAKE IN CHINA CAUSES 'TOTAL DESTRUCTION'
Haiyuan, China (JFK+50) On December 16, 1920, an incredibly destructive earthquake hit seven provinces and regions here in the Republic of China resulting in the deaths of more than 200,000 people.
The earthquake* hit at 7:05 p.m. local time causing "total destruction." The intensity was reported at 7.8 on the Richter scale**. Severe damage was seen in five major cities. In 14 counties, more than 70% of structures collapsed.
*Haiyuan (a.k.a. Gansu) earthquake was the 2nd deadliest of the 20th Century. The location was in the Republic of China near Inner Mongolia.
**Richter scale is a measure of strength of earthquakes developed by Charles F. Richter in 1935. The low end of the scale is 2.0 (minor) and the high end is 9.0+ (great).
SOURCE
"Haiyuan earthquake, 1920," by Pierre Fuller, www.disasterhistory.org/
