World Map › Major Earthquakes Since 1900 › 1981
Historic Earthquake
1981 Dawu Earthquake
23 January 1981 · Sichuan Province · People's Republic of China
On 23 January 1981 at 21:13 UTC, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck People's Republic of China (Sichuan Province), at a depth of 33 km. It occurred on the Eurasian Plate, 479 km from its boundary with the Yangtze Plate (continental rift). It killed at least 150 people and injured 489. 2,992 homes were destroyed.
- Date
- 23 January 1981
- Time
- 21:13 UTC
- Magnitude
- 6.8
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum Intensity
- VIII (Mercalli)
- Deaths
- 150
- Injuries
- 489
- Homes Destroyed
- 2,992
- Estimated Damage
- 5 million US dollars
- Plate
- Eurasian Plate
- Country
- People's Republic of China
Nearby Major Earthquakes
Other major earthquakes recorded within 300 km.
- 20222022 Luding Earthquake · M 6.6118 deaths
- 20132013 Lushan Earthquake · M 6.6196 deaths
- 20082008 Sichuan Earthquake · M 7.987,652 deaths
- 19731973 Luhuo Earthquake · M 7.6
- 1955Sichuan Province · M 7.539 deaths
- 19481948 Litang Earthquake · M 7.3800 deaths
- 19331933 Diexi Earthquake · M 7.49,300 deaths
- 1923Sichuan Province · M 7.34,800 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Significant Earthquake Database (doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K) · Wikidata · Bird (2003), PB2002 · Natural Earth