1985 Wuqia earthquake

Earthquake in Xinjiang, China
39°24′47″N 75°13′26″E / 39.413°N 75.224°E / 39.413; 75.224Areas affectedChinaMax. intensityMMI VII (Very strong)Casualties71 dead, 162 injured

The 1985 Wuqia earthquake occurred on August 23, 1985, at 20:42 local time (12:42 UTC) near the border of Wuqia County and Shufu County, Xinjiang, China. It had a magnitude of Ms 7.4 and caused 71 deaths, 162 injuries, and left 15,000 homeless, as well as destroying 85% of buildings and highways.[1] The source of this earthquake is the Kazkeaerte Fault (卡兹克阿尔特断裂). The earthquake could be felt throughout much of the Fergana Basin, USSR, as well as in Pakistan.[2][1]

The slipping of the earth during this earthquake caused a deformation zone along the Kezilesu River valley stretching 15 kilometres (9+1⁄3 miles) long and 800 metres (1⁄2 mile) wide. The zone is made up of smaller faults, fissures, and pressure ridges.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Significant Earthquakes of the World, United States Geological Survey, archived from the original on 2012-10-14
  2. ^ Wang, Xiaorong. "1985 Xinjiang Autonomous Region Wuqia Earthquake."National Earthquake Science. China Earthquakes Network Center, n.d. Web
  3. ^ Feng, Xian-yue (2008). "Deformation Zone of the Wuqia Earthquake in 1985". Seismology and Geology.

External links

  • The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.
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