震(zhen)中烈度(du):Ⅺ度(du)。武都南山崩,沖毀城墻數十米、民房(fang)200余(yu)戶,寺(si)廟、官署(shu)民房(fang)大都傾塌,城外50千(qian)米處河(he)橋(qiao)陷(xian)落。重(zhong)災區有今西(xi)(xi)固、禮(li)縣(xian)、天水(shui)、秦安等(deng)10余(yu)縣(xian)。輕(qing)災區亦10余(yu)縣(xian)。地震(zhen)波及今四川(chuan)、陜西(xi)(xi)、河(he)南、山西(xi)(xi)、湖北等(deng)5省(sheng)。死(si)亡人數20000余(yu)人。
據(ju)據(ju)《甘(gan)肅(su)省地(di)方史(shi)(shi)志(zhi)地(di)震志(zhi)》(甘(gan)肅(su)省地(di)方史(shi)(shi)志(zhi)編(bian)纂委員會(hui)[1989]郭增建等編(bian)寫)記(ji)載,地(di)震發生時(shi),地(di)聲(sheng)如(ru)雷,地(di)裂(lie)(lie)水(shui)涌,掃蕩數百里。武(wu)都的城(cheng)堡、衙署、祠廟、民房,或(huo)(huo)(huo)徹底坍塌(ta),或(huo)(huo)(huo)柱(zhu)傾墻裂(lie)(lie)。山(shan)崩(beng)阻塞了江河(he)(he),河(he)(he)水(shui)決堤沖(chong)毀半個城(cheng)。城(cheng)內(nei)外(wai)十鋪共(gong)死(si)(si)(si)(si)694人,四(si)鄉共(gong)死(si)(si)(si)(si)8564人。文縣(xian)(xian)共(gong)死(si)(si)(si)(si)10792人。成(cheng)縣(xian)(xian)、西固、秦(qin)安共(gong)死(si)(si)(si)(si)2000余人。秦(qin)州、禮縣(xian)(xian)、西和、徽縣(xian)(xian)最輕,亦共(gong)死(si)(si)(si)(si)500余人。牲畜(chu)壓(ya)死(si)(si)(si)(si)傷(shang)甚多(duo)。在(zai)武(wu)都洋湯(tang)河(he)(he)鎮,初震時(shi),烈(lie)風暴雨(yu),山(shan)川(chuan)吼(hou)嘯(xiao),大地(di)起落如(ru)波浪,萬(wan)(wan)民失魄,四(si)方奔(ben)竄傾跌(die),生死(si)(si)(si)(si)相壓(ya)蹂躪,郊野(ye)號哭(ku)震天(tian),如(ru)是者兩日(ri)(ri)夜,略(lve)停又大震一(yi)日(ri)(ri)夜。從此(ci),一(yi)日(ri)(ri)或(huo)(huo)(huo)數震,數日(ri)(ri)或(huo)(huo)(huo)-震,雖不若前(qian)之(zhi)猛,然而(er)對逃(tao)避的難(nan)民如(ru)雪上加(jia)霜(shuang),又造成(cheng)無數的傷(shang)殘。南河(he)(he)由城(cheng)穿過,沖(chong)倒該城(cheng)民房100多(duo)家,軍城(cheng)署民房全(quan)行(xing)沖(chong)淌,城(cheng)身多(duo)有拆裂(lie)(lie),城(cheng)垣倒塌(ta)百余丈(zhang),垛口俱落。有詩描(miao)述地(di)震時(shi)的情景:“……忽然大地(di)聲(sheng)如(ru)吼(hou),城(cheng)傾屋裂(lie)(lie)無處走。第(di)宅簸搖避山(shan)野(ye),山(shan)崩(beng)活葬深崖下(xia)。夫覓妻兮父(fu)尋子,哭(ku)聲(sheng)震天(tian)天(tian)不理。可憐(lian)階州十萬(wan)(wan)齒,三萬(wan)(wan)余人同日(ri)(ri)死(si)(si)(si)(si)。”
1879年(nian)(nian)(nian)7月(yue)1日(ri)(清光緒五年(nian)(nian)(nian)五月(yue)十二日(ri)),發生在甘肅武(wu)都(dou)、文縣之間的(de)(de)8級強烈地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震距今已有(you)(you)133年(nian)(nian)(nian)。由(you)于(yu)該(gai)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震破壞面(mian)積(ji)大(da),災(zai)(zai)情嚴(yan)重(zhong),當時(shi)的(de)(de)朝廷(ting)和地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)報紙都(dou)曾作(zuo)(zuo)過(guo)多次(ci)報導,也引起(qi)過(guo)清王朝的(de)(de)高度重(zhong)視,光緒皇帝曾不(bu)止(zhi)一(yi)次(ci)的(de)(de)親自過(guo)問,下旨撥款(kuan),責令地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)官吏作(zuo)(zuo)好救災(zai)(zai)工(gong)作(zuo)(zuo),因此有(you)(you)關這(zhe)次(ci)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震的(de)(de)文史資料(liao)較為豐富,既(ji)有(you)(you)朝廷(ting)、地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)報紙的(de)(de)報導.又有(you)(you)州縣地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)志的(de)(de)記(ji)載.亦有(you)(you)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)官府(fu)申(shen)報災(zai)(zai)情的(de)(de)奏折,還有(you)(you)廟(miao)宇、祠(ci)堂(tang)、墓地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)的(de)(de)碑文記(ji)述(shu)。由(you)于(yu)該(gai)次(ci)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震發生在地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)質構造復雜、地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)形陡峻(jun)、交通不(bu)便的(de)(de)隴南山區,且地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震破壞面(mian)積(ji)大(da),災(zai)(zai)情嚴(yan)重(zhong),時(shi)至今日(ri)對該(gai)次(ci)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震仍(reng)缺乏系(xi)統的(de)(de)、具有(you)(you)說服(fu)力(li)的(de)(de)成果,屬于(yu)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震與(yu)活(huo)動斷(duan)裂關系(xi)仍(reng)不(bu)明了(le)的(de)(de)三(san)大(da)地(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)(di)震之一(yi)。