Comparison of the Tangshan death toll — officially 242,419 — with other earthquake disasters is problematical because of uncertainty in the statistics . For example , the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake ( estimated magnitude of ~ 8 ) is generally said to have been the deadliest earthquake disaster in history , with 830,000 deaths , based on Chinese historical records . However , a Chinese language source argues for only 530,000 deaths from the earthquake itself , with the larger number being the total reduction of population due to deaths from all causes ( including exposure , disease , and famine ) as well as people leaving the region due to economic collapse . Another Chinese source states ( without citing any sources ) that the 1556 earthquake killed only about 100,000 directly , with another 700,000 dying of disease . Depending on what basis is used , the Tangshan disaster can thus be considered as approximately one-third , one-half , or twice as deadly as the Shaanxi disaster
1556 Shaanxi earthquake
1556 Shaanxi earthquake
1976 Tangshan earthquake