Batang earthquake in Sichuan
- When
- 1870
- Where
- Batang County
- Episodes
- 1
On April 11, 1870, a moment magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Batang County in Sichuan, China. The event reached a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The earthquake and a resulting large fire caused between 2,300 and 5,000 fatalities. Historical records note that the event was previously misdated to 1868 or 1869 by William Mesny.
Episodes
Background and detail
Historical Dating. The earthquake occurred on April 11, 1870. However, historical records indicate that the event was misdated to 1868 or 1869 by William Mesny. This discrepancy highlights the importance of verifying historical seismic data against primary sources to ensure accurate chronological placement.
Damage and Casualties. The earthquake had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). The seismic event triggered a large fire, which contributed significantly to the loss of life. The total number of fatalities resulting from the earthquake and the subsequent fire is estimated to be between 2,300 and 5,000.
People involved
- William Mesny · misdated the event to 1868 or 1869
Sources
- 1870 Batang earthquake Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-10
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.