1556 Shaanxi Earthquake

One of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history struck the Wei River Valley near Huaxian in Shaanxi Province, China, in the early morning of 23 January 1556, during the Ming dynasty. Modern estimates place its magnitude at roughly 7.9 on the moment magnitude scale, with a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of XI, extreme shaking centered on Huaxian and Weinan. The China Earthquake Administration estimates roughly 100,000 direct deaths, with an additional 730,000 people who died afterward from famine and disease or who fled the region, for a total population loss near 830,000 in official records. Casualties were made catastrophic by local building practice: most residents lived in yaodongs, artificial caves cut into loess cliffs, which collapsed on their occupants when the ground shook.