September 23, 1945 Earthquake: Hebei Province, China

September 23, 1945, 23:34:21 local time, Luanxian, Hebei Province, 39.5 119 E, magnitude 6.25, intensity VIII.

In and around Baliqiao, Xinglong Village and Xituozi southeast of the county seat, 70-80% of the gables collapsed, numerous wood-structure houses toppled down, and those left standing were seriously tilted or deformed. Over 50% of walls fell completely. Of the 500-600 houses in Xinglong Village, only 3 or 4 were undamaged. The ground

cracked 13-17 em wide, with ejection of water and sand: sand gushed out of wells. There were persons and domestic animals killed or wounded. City walls collapsed partly. Most old houses of more than 100 years toppled down. In other houses, most gables fell down, floors sank, houses deformed, and beams were broken. A few mud houses collapsed.

17 people were killed. More than 30 people were

wounded

Tangshau : A few old houses and walls collapsed. Well water in mining areas increased in volume. Brick walls cracked. Some brick chimneys collapsed.

Luannan: Many yard walls and gables fell. Old houses collapsed or cracked. A few wood-structure houses collapsed or tilted. The ground cracked at many places with ejection of water and sand.

Changli: About 40-50% of the yard walls and gables in various villages collapsed. A quarter of the houses in Zhugezhuang Village near Luanxian fell. The unfallen houses were deformed seriously. The ground cracked in villages 1 ear Luanxian with ejection of water and sand.

Lulong: 5-10% of the gables in almost all the villages, and as much as 50% in a few villages collapsed. A few houses toppled down. Most unfallen gables cracked or fell partly.

Qian'an: One tenth of the walls in the villages fell. The rate was 20-40% in individual villages. Some brick chimneys collapsed. The ground cracked about 1 cm in Shahe, with ejection of water and sand.

Laoting: A number of gables fell in all villages. Most

unfallen gables cracked. 3 or 4 houses in the county seat collapsed. The ground along the bank of Luanhe River cracked with ejection of water and sand.

Shocks were also felt in Beijing, Huailai, Xuanhua,

Cangxian, Weixian, Xing cheng, Chcngde, Tianjin,

Fengnan, Qinhuan gdao and Beidaihe.

Shocks reoccurred on October 8. Houses collapsed that had already cracked and tilted. Aftershocks continued up to March, 1946.

(above from reference #3939)