October 999 Earthquake: Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China in October 999.
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
- October 999
- Place
- Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
- Magnitude
- 5.5 (Ms)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 31.800° N, 119.900° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- 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.
October 999, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, 31.8 N, 119.9 E, magnitude 5.5, intensity VII. Some Drum-Bugle call-towers, military and civilian houses were destroyed at Ohangzhou. (reference #3939)
Reference #1055 lists earthquake in October, 999, China (Kiangsu), Changehou Fu, Wuchin and Yanghu, intensity II which corresponds to buildings may be unroofed or shattered and some may fall, the ground may be badly cracked in places and small landslips occur.
Reference #1052 lists earthquake in October, 999, Kiangsu Province, 31.8 N, 119.9 E, magnitude 5.5, intensity VII.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 1037, Taichou, Jiangsu Province, China
- July 9, 1979, Liyang, Jiangsu Province, China
- August 16, 1372, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
- July 19, 1928, Sichuan Province, China
- July 20, 2012, Jiangsu Province, China
- December 16, 1679, Jiangsu Province, China
- January 3, 1930, Jiangsu Province, China
- April 22, 1974, Jiangsu Province, China
- August 4, 499, Jiangsu Province, China
- June 17, 1509, E. China Sea
More
Significant earthquakes of 999The 900sRecent earthquakes near here
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 7904.