1996 Lijiang earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 1996 Lijiang earthquake, which occurred at 7:14 PM on 3 February 1996 near Lijiang City, Yunnan
in southwestern China
, measured 7.0 on the Richter scale.
200 people died in the earthquake and 14,000 were injured, 3,800 of them seriously. 186,000 houses collapsed, and another 300,000 people were forced out of their damaged homes.
184 aftershocks occurred in the 26 hours following the earthquake, including 18 which measured between 4.0 and 4.8 on the Richter scale.
In addition to damage to structures from the earthquake itself, it triggered more than 200 landslide
s in a 12,000 km2 area. Many further landslides occurred in the months afterwards, as monsoon
rains swept away debris already loosened by the earthquake, and as late as 1999, scientists warned that widespread ground fracturing caused through much of the area due to the earthquake might lead to further landsliding in the event of heavy rain.
In the aftermath, many high-rise buildings in the area were torn down and reconstructed as traditional single-family dwellings; along with earthquake reconstruction assistance from the provincial government and the World Bank
, which was used to restore many traditional streets, bridges, and canals, this played a major role in Lijiang's efforts to achieve designation by UNESCO
as a World Heritage Site
.
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
in southwestern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, measured 7.0 on the Richter scale.
200 people died in the earthquake and 14,000 were injured, 3,800 of them seriously. 186,000 houses collapsed, and another 300,000 people were forced out of their damaged homes.
184 aftershocks occurred in the 26 hours following the earthquake, including 18 which measured between 4.0 and 4.8 on the Richter scale.
In addition to damage to structures from the earthquake itself, it triggered more than 200 landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
s in a 12,000 km2 area. Many further landslides occurred in the months afterwards, as monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
rains swept away debris already loosened by the earthquake, and as late as 1999, scientists warned that widespread ground fracturing caused through much of the area due to the earthquake might lead to further landsliding in the event of heavy rain.
In the aftermath, many high-rise buildings in the area were torn down and reconstructed as traditional single-family dwellings; along with earthquake reconstruction assistance from the provincial government and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, which was used to restore many traditional streets, bridges, and canals, this played a major role in Lijiang's efforts to achieve designation by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.