The Huaxian disaster was recognized to be Chinas deadliest one. In January 1556 the M8¼ earthquake occurs in Shaanxi resulted in eight provinces 97 counties devastation in China, extending the 520 miles area (“Shaanxi earthquake,” n.d.). The average death rate in several counties reached about 60% of the total population (“Shaanxi earthquake,” n.d.). Historical records claim that approximately 830 thousand people lost lives due to the Loess cave dwellings and poorly constructed houses. Tectonically, this area is located on the east of the Weihle basin, southern Orthos block which is part of the North China platform. The Weihle sub-seismic belt is characterized by active tectonics and is well developed there. Hence, similar earthquakes are expected to take place again in about 5,000 years.
The main reason for the terrible earthquakes consequences was in the absence of a plan for the emergency case. Therefore, the population was unprepared for the catastrophic situation. Those times, there were no tools for estimates but it is obvious that the cost of the damage would cost millions of dollars in modern terms. The practical applicability of loss estimated should have been focused on functionality discussion, the vulnerability of lifelines and buildings, damage consequences on people and systems.
The only right action rising from this accident was done by the survivors. In the next few months after the disaster, they started looking for ways to replace stone buildings with bamboo – one of the available earthquake-resistant materials of those times (Demunno, 2018). Otherwise, both people and the government were completely not ready to respond adequately to mitigate the earthquakes consequences. Moreover, the foreign reaction is also noteworthy: for instance, Gaspar da Cruz, the Portuguese Dominican friar, made a significant note in his book “A Treatise of China” published in 1569. After visiting China later in 1556, he wrote that the given disaster was likely to be either the punishment for the nations sins or the sign of the Antichrists’ birth (Gold Boarder, 2011). Additionally, nobody took care of people suffering from the aftereffect of the earthquake, although children and adults subjected to emotional neglect or physical abuse after such occasions require more mental support.
References
Demunno, L. (2018). 9 natural disasters that took the lives of hundreds of thousands. Business Insider Australia. Web.
Gold Boarder [Banguilan]. (2011). Elenin comet [Online forum post]. ICafe Philippines. Web.
Shaanxi earthquake of 23 January 1556, M8. (n.d.). International Institute of Earthquake and Engineering and Seismology. 2020. Web.