Significant earthquakes of 1998

August 27, 1998 Earthquake: Jiashi, Southern Xinjiang, China

August 27, 1998 · M6.4 · 3 deaths · 3,600 houses destroyed

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Jiashi, Southern Xinjiang, China on August 27, 1998 at 09:03:36 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 3 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
August 27, 1998
Time
09:03:36 UTC
Place
Jiashi, Southern Xinjiang, China
Magnitude
6.4 (Mw)
Focal depth
33 km (21 mi)
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
39.660° N, 77.343° E
Country
China

The toll

Deaths
3
Injuries
7
Damage
Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
Houses destroyed
3,600
Houses damaged
18,771

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.

1998, Aug 27. At least 3 people killed, 7 injured, more than 3,600 houses destroyed, 18,771 damaged and 159 livestock killed in Jiashi County. (reference #1053)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1998The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1998Recent 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 5503.