China: Earthquake - Feb 1996
Disaster description
A strong earthquake measuring 7.0 on the richter scale occurred in the region of Lijiang, in Yunnan province, China, on 3 February 1996 at 19:14 hrs local time, (GMT: at 11:14 hrs). The preliminary epicentre was 330 km northwest of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, at a latitude of 27.2 degrees north, a longitude of 100.5 degrees east, and a normal depth. (UN DHA, 4 Feb 1996)
Official statistics as of 16 February, which are still preliminary, indicate that 1,243,369 people were affected by the 3 February earthquake in Yunnan. 322 people were killed, 3,925 seriously and 13,000 slightly injured. 358,174 housing units collapsed and 654,000 were damaged. Over 35,890 mt of grain were lost. (UN DHA, 28 Feb 1996)