Hebei earthquake of June 1830

Geographic Context. The event occurred in the region historically known as Zhili, which corresponds to the modern province of Hebei. In present-day terms, Hebei is a major industrial province in northern China, strategically located surrounding the direct-administered municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin, and it borders Shanxi to the west, Henan to the south, Shandong and Liaoning to the east, and Inner Mongolia to the north. These modern geographic and economic descriptions do not characterize conditions in the Zhili region as it existed in 1830.

Magnitude and Impact. Based on macroseismic data, the earthquake had an estimated magnitude of 7.5 Ms or 7.4 Mw. The disaster caused significant loss of life, with a total of 7,477 people reported dead as a result of the seismic activity. The event is recorded as a major earthquake affecting the region.

Affected Localities. Deaths were distributed across several localities within the affected region. Specific reports indicate many deaths in Cheng'an. Additionally, 488 deaths were recorded in Handan and nearby villages. These figures contribute to the total death toll of 7,477 people attributed to the earthquake.