May 22, 1927 Earthquake: Gansu Province, China

May 23, 1927, 06:32:47 Beijing time, 37.7 N, 102.2 E, magnitude 8, intensity XI.

The meizoseismal region ranged from Huangyangchuan and Shangzhangjiagou in the east to Dongqingding and Shenjiawopu in the west, down to Xiaopo and Heisongyi in the south, up to Zhaojiazhuang in the north. In this region, all cave dwellings and more than 90% of the houses collapsed. Construction collapsed totally except a section of the eastern city wall, 3 m high and 20 m long, as well as several decorated archways in Gulang. Deep trenches occurred in the flat ground and some fissures caused the hilltop to split or fall. The Dongchuan landslide (1.5 km in length), by Yangjiawa Village, buried villages at the foot of the hill. In the canyon east of the city the landslide blocked the road obstructing all traffic for a year. River water dried up and new springs occurred.

More than 4,000 people and over 30,000 domestic animals were killed in the whole county. The shake-stricken region was 600 km long.

Wuwei: Many gate towers, city walls, temples, old towers and civilian houses collapsed under shaking. More than 35,000 people and over 200,000 oxen and horses were killed in the whole county.

Yongchang: 3,465 rooms and 6 oil mills collapsed with loss of 26 lives inside the city. In the countryside 1,289 primary schools, forts and stockaded villages, temples, oil mills, and water mills, as well as 12,442 rooms collapsed under shaking. 809 people were killed and 518 wounded. 8600 head of livestock were killed or injured.

Shandan: More than 200 villages and cave dwellings and over 5,800 civilian houses were destroyed. 886 people and more than 10,000 head of livestock were killed.

Yongdeng: 172 battlements cracked, and 2,396 rooms and 72 cave dwellings collapsed in the downtown and the suburb regions. 44 residents were killed and 6 injured. 1018 head of livestock were killed or injured.

Minqin: Dozens of civilian houses collapsed. 2 persons and more than one hundred head of livestock were killed in the city. Plenty of livestock was killed in the countryside.

Zhangye: Half of the walls and 134 crenels were destroyed. City walls fell at 31 places, and some houses collapsed. 135 people and 350 head of livestock were killed.

Huating: Some city walls and houses collapsed.

Yongjing: Houses were slanted and small houses collapsed by shaking.

Linze: Most of the dados and crenels collapsed and more than 1,000 rooms were destroyed. 10 people and 350 head of livestock were killed.

Jinta: Many houses collapsed.

Lanzhou: 3 sections of the city walls and more than 20 house walls collapsed, and over 10 civilian houses were destroyed.

Huangzhong: Landslips and fissures occurred at hills by Xingyuan and Yanhua villages.

Huangyuani: Houses shook, and shabby houses collapsed.

Gaotai: Shabby houses and chimneys collapsed.

The farthest location where the shock was felt was 700 km away from the epicenter.

(above ref #3939)

Ref #130 lists May 22, 1927, 22:32:42 UTC, 36.75N, 102E, depth 27, magnitude 8.0.

Ref #1002 lists May 22, 1927, NE Tsinghai, magnitude 8.3, tens of thousand dead.

Ref #1314 lists May 22, 1927, magnitudes 8.0 Ms and 7.6 Mw.

Ref #1003 lists May 22, 1927, China: Nan-Shan; magnitude 8.3, 200000 killed, felt as far as [Beijing] Peking.

Ref #1048 lists May 22, 1927, China: Gansu Province, 37.6N, 102.6E, 40912 killed, extreme damage.

Ref #1051 lists May 23, 1927, China: Nan-Shan, 37.6N, 102.6E, 80000 killed.

Ref #10476 (v.11) lists May 22, 1927, 22:32:50.18 UTC, 36.75N, 102E, magnitude 7.7 Mw

Ref #14034 lists 41,420 killed.

Ref #1250 lists 40912 killed, 524 injured