Significant earthquakes of 1982

June 15, 1982 Earthquake: Garze, Sichuan Province, China

June 15, 1982 · M5.5 · 10 deaths

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Garze, Sichuan Province, China on June 15, 1982 at 23:24:28 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 10 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
June 15, 1982
Time
23:24:28 UTC
Place
Garze, Sichuan Province, China
Magnitude
5.5 (Ms)
Focal depth
10 km (6 mi)
Intensity
7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
31.907° N, 99.931° E
Country
China

The toll

Deaths
10
Injuries
5
Damage
Limited (under about $1 million)

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.

10 people killed, 5 injured and damage in the Garze area. (reference #1053)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1982The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1982Recent 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 4944.