Which 1976 earthquake destroyed much of Tangshan, China?

The 1976 earthquake that destroyed much of Tangshan, China, was the Tangshan earthquake.

It struck near Tangshan in Hebei province on 28 July 1976. The main shock is commonly given a magnitude of 7.6, and it occurred at 03:42 local time, when most residents were asleep. The city’s dense buildings and weak construction contributed to catastrophic losses.

Official Chinese figures reported 242,769 deaths, while some estimates have been higher. A magnitude 7.1 aftershock struck near Luanxian about 15 hours later, adding to the destruction. Tangshan was rebuilt after the disaster and became a major industrial city again.

The event is sometimes described as the deadliest earthquake of the twentieth century, but rankings depend on the death estimates used. It should not be confused with the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake or the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.