242,000 people killed by earthquake in northern China 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (July 28 1976)


Video: 'Tangshan earthquake 1976'

(Wednesday, July 28, 1976, 3:42 a.m. China Standard Time) — The Tangshan earthquake, believed to be the largest earthquake of the 20th century by death toll, struck early this morning near Tangshan in northeastern Hebei province, China, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake killed at least 242,000 people, according to an official estimate and another 164,000 were severely injured.


Video: 'The Great Tangshan Earthquake'