Two Fatal M5.6 Quakes in Rural China; Little to No Insured Losses
07-Sep-12
Two magnitude 5.6 earthquakes occurred in a mountainous region of south-central China on September 7, 2012 (local time). Fatalities have been reported, as well as significant damage to vulnerable buildings in the localized region. Some damage was caused by landslides and rockfall. Little to no insured losses are expected, given the relatively rural location.
Earthquakes in China - September 7, 2012
Source: Google Earth with USGS Overlay
According to PAGER estimates, approximately 350,000 people were exposed to strong or very strong shaking intensity, and another 2 million people experienced moderate shaking intensity. The location of this earthquake is approximately 400 km south of the 2008 M7.9 Wenchuan earthquake in eastern Sichuan, China.
Seismic activity in this region of China is related to extrusion within the Eurasian plate resulting from convergence of the Indian plate along the Himalayan front. Extrusion-related earthquakes with moderate to large magnitudes, of which the M7.9 2008 Wenchuan earthquake was one example, are known to occur throughout central China from the Himalaya northward.
EQECAT will continue to monitor this event and provide updates as additional information becomes available.
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