April 2, 814 Earthquake: Xichang, Sichuan Province, China
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Xichang, Sichuan Province, China on April 2, 814. It killed 101 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
- April 2, 814
- Place
- Xichang, Sichuan Province, China
- Magnitude
- 7 (Ms)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 27.900° N, 102.200° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Deaths
- 101
- 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.
April 2, 814, in and around Xichang, Sichuan Province, 27.9 N, 102.2 E, magnitude 6-7.
The earthquake occurred in Xizhou Prefecture. The ground sank about 15 km long, and more than 100 persons were killed. 80 Shocks occurred during day and night.
Note: The seat of local government of Xizhou Prefecture was located at the present-day Xicheng. Xizhou Prefecture covered 8 counties, including Yuexi and Huili counties.
(above from reference #3939)
Reference #1052 lists April 2, 814, Szechwan Province, 27.9 N, 102.2 E, magnitude 6.5.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 12, 1850, Xichang, Sichuan, China
- May 10, 1974, Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, Chao-T'Ung, China
- July 30, 1917, Yunnan Province, China
- August 3, 2014, Longtoushan, Zhaotong, Ludian, Yunnan, China
- September 20, 1933, Sichuan Province, China
- December 18, 1935, Sichuan Province, China
- September 7, 2012, Yiliang, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China
- August 7, 1878, Yunnan Province, China
- August 30, 2008, Sichuan Province, China
- May 14, 1930, Yunnan Province, China
- August 17, 1936, Yunnan Province, China
- July 22, 2006, Yanjin, China
- November 19, 1998, Huaping, Lijiang, Ninglag, Sichuan Province, China
- May 18, 2020, Qiaojia, Yunnan Province, China
- June 24, 2012, Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 814The 800sRecent 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 200.