Why is Shanghai said to be a city susceptible to earthquakes?, The Qingpu 3.1 magnitude earthquake in Shanghai is widely felt throughout the city | Shanghai | the whole city
"Shanghai Songjiang, located in the coordinates of the University City, is shaking violently." "The coordinates of Minhang Qibao are clearly shaking." "On the second floor of Jiading, the bed is shaking for about two to three seconds." This morning, an earthquake occurred in Qingpu, Shanghai. According to the Shanghai Earthquake Bureau, the earthquake caused widespread tremors in Shanghai.
According to measurements, a 3.1 magnitude earthquake occurred at 1:39 am on June 15th in Qingpu District, Shanghai, with a depth of 8 kilometers. The population density within a 5-kilometer radius of the epicenter is about 860 people per square kilometer, with a population of approximately 68000 people. The population density within a 10 kilometer radius of the epicenter is about 1500 people per square kilometer, with a population of approximately 480000 people. The population density within a 20 kilometer radius of the epicenter is about 1700 people per square kilometer, with a population of approximately 2.2 million people.
Experts say that the earthquake is about 40 kilometers away from People's Square, and based on regional structural characteristics and historical seismic activity levels, it will not have a serious impact on the city. As of now, no reports of casualties or damage to buildings have been received.
According to historical data provided by the Shanghai Seismological Bureau, there have been no earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or higher within a 50 kilometer radius of the epicenter of this earthquake. The largest and most recent earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 or above was the Qingpu 3.0 magnitude earthquake in Shanghai on February 17, 1991. At that time, 4 kilometers away from the epicenter, there were no casualties. Earthquakes with similar magnitudes, with a magnitude of 3 or more, have occurred once and have not caused any casualties.
In fact, Shanghai experiences several earthquakes every year because most earthquakes have smaller magnitudes and are not given much attention. According to the Shanghai County Annals, on September 1, 1624, a four and three-quarters earthquake occurred in Shanghai, causing damage to some houses and affecting Changshu, Jiangsu.
![Why is Shanghai said to be a city susceptible to earthquakes?, The Qingpu 3.1 magnitude earthquake in Shanghai is widely felt throughout the city | Shanghai | the whole city](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/0b41f10f57da8dbf724d94d56842a526.jpg)
In addition, earthquakes in surrounding areas and long-distance strong earthquakes will also have an impact on Shanghai. For example, the 6.1 magnitude earthquake at the mouth of the Yangtze River in 1996 and the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in East Japan in 2011 have both had significant tremors in Shanghai. Since the 1970s, there have been as many as 20 earthquakes that have affected Shanghai.
So, why is Shanghai said to be a city susceptible to earthquakes? In fact, Shanghai is located near the Pacific Rim seismic zone, with weak foundations and a soft soil layer covering about 400 meters underground. Not only that, Shanghai is full of high-rise buildings, densely populated, and its lifeline projects such as transportation, power supply, and water supply are complex and intricate. Once a destructive earthquake occurs in Shanghai, property damage and social impact will far exceed those in other areas.
But there's no need to worry too much. In Shanghai, projects constructed strictly according to fortification standards can withstand disasters caused by moderate to strong earthquakes. The seismic fortification intensity in Shanghai is 7 levels, and construction projects that are significant or may experience serious secondary disasters must undergo seismic safety evaluation in accordance with legal provisions.
The Municipal Seismological Bureau stated that it will continue to carry out follow-up monitoring work.