The Shaanxi (Huaxian) earthquake in China on 23 January 1556 killed an estimated 830,000 people, many of whom lived in artificial loess-cliff cave dwellings that collapsed. The USGS lists it as the deadliest earthquake in recorded history.
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The Shaanxi (Huaxian) earthquake in China on 23 January 1556 killed an estimated 830,000 people, many of whom lived in artificial loess-cliff cave dwellings that collapsed. The USGS lists it as the deadliest earthquake in recorded history.
The highest death toll attributed to a single earthquake in historical records.
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Permanent ID limitsregistry.com/limits/LR-DEADLIEST-EARTHQUAKE
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Limits Registry. LR-DEADLIEST-EARTHQUAKE. Deadliest earthquake in recorded history. 2026.