China 2008 EQ

When did the China (Sichuan/Wenchuan) earthquake occur?

12 May 2008

What was the magnitude of the Sichuan earthquake?

Magnitude 7.9 on the Richter scale

Where was the epicentre located?

Inland in Sichuan Province near Wenchuan County

How deep was the earthquake focus?

Shallow focus at approximately 19 km

What tectonic plates caused the earthquake?

Collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates

How long was the fault rupture?

Around 240 km

How far did the shaking extend?

As far as Taiwan, Thailand, Beijing, and Shanghai

What secondary hazard was caused by landslides?

Rivers were blocked forming around 30 quake lakes

How many people were killed?

Approximately 87,000 people

How many people were injured?

Around 370,000 people

How many people were displaced?

Around 4.8 million people

Why was the number of displaced people so high?

Massive building collapse and rural housing vulnerability

How many buildings collapsed?

About 5 million buildings including 200 schools

Why were so many children killed?

Many schools collapsed during school hours

What primary social impact affected families due to policy?

One-child policy meant families lost their only child

How did the government respond to families who lost a child?

Fines for second children were removed

What secondary impacts affected infrastructure?

Roads damaged, dams cracked, and power and water cut

How much did the earthquake cost economically?

Around $86–135 billion, the second most costly earthquake

Why were poorer rural villages hardest hit?

Weak building materials, low income, and limited education

Why do people live in tectonically active areas in Sichuan?

Fertile soils, restricted movement, and trust in government

How quickly did the Chinese government respond?

130,000 soldiers deployed and aid mobilised rapidly

What role did the military play in the response?

Search and rescue, shelter provision, and infrastructure clearance

Why did China initially restrict information about the disaster?

To control public perception and maintain authority

Why did China eventually accept international aid?

Scale of disaster overwhelmed national capacity

How was Beichuan town dealt with after the earthquake?

Rebuilt within 3 years with earthquake-resistant design

What political issue arose regarding school buildings?

Allegations of corruption and poor construction standards

What long-term mitigation measures were introduced?

Stronger building codes and amended disaster laws

How did China improve earthquake monitoring?

Nationwide system with over 100,000 monitoring stations

What insurance or financial mitigation was provided?

Banks wrote off debts and government gave rebuilding grants

Why was population movement limited after the earthquake?

Authoritarian controls to prevent disease and disorder

How successful were China’s mitigation strategies overall?

Highly effective in rebuilding and reducing future risk

How did the earthquake affect China politically?

Increased transparency briefly but reinforced central authority

What environmental impacts remain long term?

Landslides, unstable quake lakes, and flood risk

How did Beichuan’s sense of place change?

Became a memorial and dark tourism site

What example showed successful pre-earthquake mitigation?

Sangzao Middle School survived due to reinforced design