2008 Panzhihua earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Panzhihua earthquake was a 6.1 Ms
(5.7 Mw
) earthquake that struck southern Sichuan
province, China on August 30, 2008 at 16:30:50.5 CST (8:30:50.5 UTC). It was not an aftershock
of the Wenchuan earthquake that occurred in May of the same year. With more than 400 aftershocks, it caused over 40 deaths, the collapse of 10,000 homes and damage to other infrastructure in the area. Maximum intensity of this earthquake was VIII liedu
(Heavily damaging).
(CEA) and Sichuan Earthquake Administration (SCEA), a surface wave magnitude
(Ms) 6.1 earthquake struck southern Sichuan province, China on August 30, 2008 at 16:30:50.5 China Standard Time (CST - 0730 UTC). The United States Geological Survey
(USGS) reported the same earthquake at moment magnitude
(Mw) 5.7.
The earthquake's epicenter was located at 26.2°N 101.9°E, in the Renhe District
of Panzhihua
, Sichuan, which is 50 km southeast of the city center. The epicenter is 60 km from Huili County
in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
, Sichuan, 30 km from Yongren County
and 55 km from Yuanmou County
in neighboring Yunnan province.
The 2008 Panzhihua earthquake is also cited as the Renhe-Huili earthquake, especially in SCEA reports and early CEA reports.
causing at least two additional deaths.
By midnight CST September 1, there had been 439 aftershocks including the M5.6 one and two more exceeding M4.0.
Incidentally, a Ms 3.0 earthquake very close to the main quake's epicenter preceded the main quake by 2 hours 15 minutes.
two and half months earlier in the same province continues to invoke aftershocks even after August 30, the Panzhihua earthquake was not one of them because it was caused by a different fault line
.
Within two hours, the CEA invoked its Level III emergency response protocol for disaster relief.
8,000 troops and para-militia were deployed to the disaster area.
The seismic intensity map published by SCEA shows a maximum intensity of liedu VIII on China Seismic Intensity Scale
(CSIS), somewhat equivalent to VIII (Heavily damaging) on EMS-94
from which CSIS drew reference.
The area affected by liedu VIII earthquakes covered a north-south oriented oval of 628 km2 centered around the epicenter, 39 km long and 19 km wide, including 28 km2 in Yunnan province. The total area of liedu VI (Slightly damaging) and above is 9,634 km2, of which 6,265 km2 are in Sichuan.
Surface wave magnitude
The surface wave magnitude scale is one of the magnitude scales used in seismology to describe the size of an earthquake. It is based on measurements in Rayleigh surface waves that travel primarily along the uppermost layers of the earth...
(5.7 Mw
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
) earthquake that struck southern Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
province, China on August 30, 2008 at 16:30:50.5 CST (8:30:50.5 UTC). It was not an aftershock
Aftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
of the Wenchuan earthquake that occurred in May of the same year. With more than 400 aftershocks, it caused over 40 deaths, the collapse of 10,000 homes and damage to other infrastructure in the area. Maximum intensity of this earthquake was VIII liedu
China Seismic Intensity Scale
The China Seismic Intensity Scale is a national standard in the People's Republic of China used to measure seismic intensity. Similar to EMS-92 on which CSIS drew reference, seismic impacts are classified into 12 degrees of intensity, or liedu in Roman numerals from I for insensible to XII for...
(Heavily damaging).
Earthquake Details
According to the China Earthquake AdministrationChina Earthquake Administration
The China Earthquake Administration , is mandated by the Law of the People's Republic of China on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters of PRC to enforce the earthquake administration in the nation under the administration of State Council of the People's Republic of China.Some...
(CEA) and Sichuan Earthquake Administration (SCEA), a surface wave magnitude
Surface wave magnitude
The surface wave magnitude scale is one of the magnitude scales used in seismology to describe the size of an earthquake. It is based on measurements in Rayleigh surface waves that travel primarily along the uppermost layers of the earth...
(Ms) 6.1 earthquake struck southern Sichuan province, China on August 30, 2008 at 16:30:50.5 China Standard Time (CST - 0730 UTC). The United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) reported the same earthquake at moment magnitude
Moment magnitude scale
The moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released. The magnitude is based on the seismic moment of the earthquake, which is equal to the rigidity of the Earth multiplied by the average amount of slip on the fault and the size of...
(Mw) 5.7.
The earthquake's epicenter was located at 26.2°N 101.9°E, in the Renhe District
Renhe District
Renhe District is a district of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Panzhihua city....
of Panzhihua
Panzhihua
Panzhihua is a prefecture-level city located in the far south of Sichuan province of Southwest China, on the confluence of the Jinsha and Yalong Rivers. It has an administrative area of , and a total population of 1,100,800 as of 2007. It is the only city in China having a name of a flower, and...
, Sichuan, which is 50 km southeast of the city center. The epicenter is 60 km from Huili County
Huili County
Huili County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.The county was severely affected by the 2008 Panzhihua earthquake....
in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Liangshan , officially the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, is an autonomous prefecture in Sichuan, south central China whose capital is Xichang. Liangshan has an area of 60,423 km² and over 4.5 million inhabitants...
, Sichuan, 30 km from Yongren County
Yongren County
Yongren County is located in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.-External links:*...
and 55 km from Yuanmou County
Yuanmou County
Yuanmou County is located in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan province, China.The famous Yuanmou Man was found in Yuanmou County in 1965.-External links:*...
in neighboring Yunnan province.
The 2008 Panzhihua earthquake is also cited as the Renhe-Huili earthquake, especially in SCEA reports and early CEA reports.
Aftershocks
A Ms 5.6 aftershock (5.5 Mw according to USGS) struck the same location on August 31, 2008 at 16:31:09.6 CST (08:31 UTC),causing at least two additional deaths.
By midnight CST September 1, there had been 439 aftershocks including the M5.6 one and two more exceeding M4.0.
Incidentally, a Ms 3.0 earthquake very close to the main quake's epicenter preceded the main quake by 2 hours 15 minutes.
Relation to Wenchuan Earthquake
Whereas the Wenchuan earthquake2008 Sichuan earthquake
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Msand 7.9 Mw occurred at 14:28:01 CST...
two and half months earlier in the same province continues to invoke aftershocks even after August 30, the Panzhihua earthquake was not one of them because it was caused by a different fault line
Fault line
In geology, fault line refers to the surface trace of a fault.Fault line, Fault Line, or faultline may also refer to:* "Faultline", a song from the 2008 studio album Versus by The Haunted...
.
Response in China
Although the quake-stricken area is relatively low in population, reported at 118/km2, early casualties and property damages were significant.Within two hours, the CEA invoked its Level III emergency response protocol for disaster relief.
8,000 troops and para-militia were deployed to the disaster area.
Casualties, intensities, and damage areas
By September 5, authorities confirmed 41 deaths (35 in Sichuan, 6 in Yunnan) and 589 injuries. CEA also reported collapse of 10,000 homes, and damage to 190,000 more. Considerable damages to highways, bridges, and reservoirs were reported.The seismic intensity map published by SCEA shows a maximum intensity of liedu VIII on China Seismic Intensity Scale
China Seismic Intensity Scale
The China Seismic Intensity Scale is a national standard in the People's Republic of China used to measure seismic intensity. Similar to EMS-92 on which CSIS drew reference, seismic impacts are classified into 12 degrees of intensity, or liedu in Roman numerals from I for insensible to XII for...
(CSIS), somewhat equivalent to VIII (Heavily damaging) on EMS-94
European Macroseismic Scale
The European Macroseismic Scale is the basis for evaluation of seismic intensity in European countries and is also used in a number of countries outside Europe...
from which CSIS drew reference.
The area affected by liedu VIII earthquakes covered a north-south oriented oval of 628 km2 centered around the epicenter, 39 km long and 19 km wide, including 28 km2 in Yunnan province. The total area of liedu VI (Slightly damaging) and above is 9,634 km2, of which 6,265 km2 are in Sichuan.