October 26, 1440 Earthquake: Yongdeng, Gansu Province, China
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Yongdeng, Gansu Province, China on October 26, 1440. It killed 200 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- October 26, 1440
- Place
- Yongdeng, Gansu Province, China
- Magnitude
- 6.3 (Ms)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 36.200° N, 103.300° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Deaths
- 200
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Some (about 51 to 100)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
October 26, 1440, Yongdeng, Gansu Province, 36.7 N, 103.3 E, magnitude 6.25, intensity VIII.
Earthquake occurred at Yongdeng, Lanzhou. Castles
and Offices and civilian houses were destroyed.
Over 200 people and over 800 domestic animals were
killed. Shocks lasted till 10th day. (reference #3939)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 16, 1920, Gansu Province, Shanxi Province, China
- May 22, 1927, Gansu Province, China
- December 18, 2023, Jishishan, Gansu Province, China
- February 24, 1819, Qinghai Province, China
- September 10, 1837, Gansu Province, China
- July 21, 1995, Gansu, Yongdeng, Baiyin, Dingxi, Jingtai, China
- October 20, 1990, Tianzhu, Gansu Province, China
- November 13, 2003, Jone, Lintan, Minxian, Gansu Province, China
- August 30, 1125, Gansu Province, China
- March 1, 138, Gansu Province, China
- February 7, 1936, Gansu Province, China
- March 11, 1888, Qinghai Province, China
- February 193 BC, Lintao, Gansu Province, China
- July 7, 1590, Gansu Province, China
- January 9, 2007, Gansu Province, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 1440The 1400sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 596.