March 19, 1966 Earthquake: Hebei Province, China
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Hebei Province, China on March 19, 1966 at 16:59:31 UTC.
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
- March 19, 1966
- Time
- 16:59:31 UTC
- Place
- Hebei Province, China
- Magnitude
- 5.6 (Ms)
- Intensity
- 6 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 37.270° N, 114.970° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 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.
March 20, 1966, 00:59:31, Northwest of Julu, Hebei Province, 37 deg 16 min N, 114 deg 58 min E, magnitude 5.6, intensity VI.
There were altogether 152 rooms partly collapsed in
Xiaoluehai, Xiguocheng and Huzhai [communes). 10 rooms collapsed in Xiaohanzhuang, 15 in Xiaoluzhai, 2 in Mengzhuang, 12 in Xunhuzhai, 2 in Dahanzhnang, and 6 in Baijiazhai Villages. Furthermore, there were 3 walls collapsed in Tunli, 2 in Daluzhai and 8 in Heahai villages.
In Julu County, 15 rooms collapsed in Chengguan Commune. A house collapsed at a corner in the Chengbeijie street.
(above from reference #3939)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- March 7, 1966, Hebei Province, China
- June 12, 1830, Hebei Province, China
- October 5, 1314, Shexian, Hebei, China
- 777, Shulu, Ningjin, Hebei Province, China
- October 17, 1502, Pucheng, Henan Province, China
- December 2, 1882, Hebei Province, China
- February 4, 1814, Henan Province, China
- April 20, 1966, Hebei Province, China
- March 6, 1966, Hebei Province, China
- March 22, 1966, Hebei Province, China
- March 26, 1966, Hebei Province, China
- December 2, 1967, Shulu, Hebei Province, China
- August 19, 1956, Shanxi Province, China
- August 5, 2023, Pingyuan, Shangdong Province, China
- September 18, 1704, Dongguang, Cangxian, Hebei Province, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 1966The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1966Recent 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 8082.