August 1, 2008 Earthquake: Sichuan Province, China
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Sichuan Province, China on August 1, 2008 at 08:32:43 UTC, 7 km below the surface.
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 1, 2008
- Time
- 08:32:43 UTC
- Place
- Sichuan Province, China
- Magnitude
- 5.7 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 7 km (4 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 32.036° N, 104.722° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Injuries
- 231
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 540
- Houses damaged
- 540; 2,450 with its tsunami and other effects
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.
At least 231 people injured, 540 houses destroyed and 2,450 houses damaged in Beichuan and Pingwu. Several landslides and rockfalls blocked roads in Pingwu. Cellular phone service interrupted in Beichuan. Felt (V) at Mianyang; (III) at Chengdu and Chongqing; (II) at Xi'an. Also felt at Ankang, Baoji, Daxian, Deyang, Fuling, Guangyuan, Hanzhong, Jiangyou,
Lanzhou, Leshan, Luzhou, Nanchong, Nanlong, Tianshui, Ya'an, Yanliang and Yibin. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 12, 2008, Sichuan Province, China
- July 1, 1879, Gansu Province, China
- August 25, 1933, Sichuan Province, China
- July 20, 1881, Gansu Province, China
- August 8, 2017, Aba, Sichuan Province, China
- June 18, 1822, Gansu Province, China
- May 25, 2008, Sichuan Province, China
- June 22, 1880, Wenxian, Gansu Province, China
- August 5, 2008, Sichuan Province, China
- December 9, 2008, Sichuan Province, China
- July 24, 2008, Sichuan Province, China
- January 16, 1630, Sichuan Province, China
- September 16, 1488, Maowen, Sichuan Province, China
- February 7, 1958, Sichuan Province, China
- September 4, 1713, Diexi, Maoxian, Sichuan Province, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 2008The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2008Recent 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 8167.