Tangshan Earthquake (1976)

The Tangshan Earthquake of 28 July 1976 killed 242,000-655,000 people as it struck an industrial city at 3:42 AM, making it the deadliest quake of the 20th century—and its peak estimate is 18% above the runner-up 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The 7.6 magnitude event destroyed 93% of residential buildings within seconds. China suppressed international aid and casualty figures for years, while the economic cost of $1 billion (1976 USD) equaled 0.5% of China's GDP. In absolute costs, however, it is less expensive than the 2010 Haiti earthquake, which required $13 billion in reconstruction.