On January 23, 1556, China experienced the deadliest earthquake in recorded history, claiming an estimated 830,000 lives. The massive 8.0-magnitude quake struck the provinces of Shaanxi and Shanxi, causing widespread destruction and altering the course of history.
The disaster, also known as the Jiajing Earthquake, after the ruling emperor of the Ming dynasty, devastated entire cities. Homes, city walls, and infrastructure collapsed as the ground cracked open. The effects were felt far beyond the epicenter, reaching as far as China’s southern coast.
Historical records describe how the quake triggered landslides, floods, and ground fissures that swallowed entire settlements. The Yellow and Wei rivers reportedly turned clear for days due to the upheaval. The aftermath led to famine, disease, and social unrest, further weakening the already declining Ming dynasty.
Given that the world’s population at the time was only a fraction of today’s, the scale of the destruction was staggering. The death toll remains the highest ever recorded for a single earthquake, making that fateful day in 1556 one of the deadliest in human history.