China's Earthquake History: A Closer Look

You might think earthquakes in China are rare, but they happen more often than you think, especially in the west. Recently, a strong 7. 1 magnitude earthquake hit near the border with Nepal, killing at least 126 people. This isn't the first time China has faced deadly quakes. The Tibetan Plateau and its edges are hotspots for these shakes because of the India and Eurasia plates colliding. You see, these plates push and pull, causing the Himalayas to grow taller. Let's go back to 2008. A huge 7. 9 magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan province, killing nearly 90, 000 people. Schools and buildings crumbled, leading to a long effort to rebuild with stronger materials. But earthquakes don't just happen in Sichuan. They've also hit Yunnan, Qinghai, and Gansu provinces. Here's a quick rundown of some major quakes: - In May 2008, a 7. 9 magnitude quake in Sichuan killed around 90, 000 people. - April 2010 saw a 7. 1 magnitude quake in Qinghai, killing 2, 698. - In April 2013, a 7. 0 magnitude quake in Sichuan killed 196. - July 2013 brought a 6. 6 magnitude quake to Gansu, killing 95. - August 2014 had a 6. 1 magnitude quake in Yunnan, killing 617. - September 2022 witnessed a 6. 8 magnitude quake in Sichuan, killing 93. - December 2023 saw a 6. 2 magnitude quake in Gansu and Qinghai, killing at least 126. After these quakes, rescuers and supplies flood in to help. They deliver food, water, and medicines, and work to rebuild what's been lost. It's important to remember that while these are devastating events, they also show how communities come together to support each other.