China: Earthquake - Jan 1998

A 6.2 Richter magnitude earthquake struck Zhangjiankou Prefecture in Hebei Province just before noon local time (0350 GMT) on 10 January. Hebei Province has a population of approximately 53 million people, more than half of whom live in the industrialised south. The earthquake occurred in the mountainous tableland of the more remote and rugged north where many of the villagers farm and raise livestock. Extensive damage occurred in four of the five counties affected: Zhangbei, Shangyi, Kangbao and Wanquan Counties, with Zhangbei and Shangyi the hardest hit. A total of 1,824 villages in 37 townships suffered varying degrees of damage, 696 seriously. (IFRC, 3 Feb 1998)

The quake killed at least 50 people, injuring more than 12,000 and leaving some 44,000 homeless. (IFRC, 22 Jan 1998)