震中烈度(du):Ⅺ度(du)。武都南山(shan)崩,沖毀城墻數十米、民房200余(yu)(yu)戶(hu),寺(si)廟、官署民房大(da)都傾塌,城外50千米處(chu)河橋陷落。重災區(qu)有今(jin)西(xi)固、禮縣、天水、秦安等10余(yu)(yu)縣。輕災區(qu)亦10余(yu)(yu)縣。地震波及今(jin)四川、陜西(xi)、河南、山(shan)西(xi)、湖北等5省。死亡人數20000余(yu)(yu)人。
據(ju)據(ju)《甘肅省地(di)方史志(zhi)地(di)震(zhen)(zhen)志(zhi)》(甘肅省地(di)方史志(zhi)編纂委員會(hui)[1989]郭增建等編寫(xie))記載(zai),地(di)震(zhen)(zhen)發生時(shi),地(di)聲(sheng)(sheng)如雷,地(di)裂(lie)(lie)水涌,掃(sao)蕩(dang)數百里。武都的城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)堡(bao)、衙署、祠廟、民房,或(huo)徹底(di)坍塌,或(huo)柱傾(qing)(qing)墻裂(lie)(lie)。山(shan)崩(beng)阻塞了江(jiang)河,河水決堤沖(chong)毀半個城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)。城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)內外十(shi)鋪共(gong)死(si)694人(ren),四(si)鄉(xiang)共(gong)死(si)8564人(ren)。文縣共(gong)死(si)10792人(ren)。成縣、西(xi)固、秦(qin)安共(gong)死(si)2000余(yu)(yu)人(ren)。秦(qin)州、禮(li)縣、西(xi)和、徽縣最輕,亦(yi)共(gong)死(si)500余(yu)(yu)人(ren)。牲畜壓死(si)傷(shang)甚多(duo)。在(zai)武都洋湯河鎮,初震(zhen)(zhen)時(shi),烈風暴雨(yu),山(shan)川吼嘯,大地(di)起(qi)落(luo)如波浪(lang),萬民失魄,四(si)方奔竄傾(qing)(qing)跌,生死(si)相壓蹂躪,郊野(ye)號哭震(zhen)(zhen)天(tian)(tian),如是(shi)者兩(liang)日夜,略(lve)停(ting)又大震(zhen)(zhen)一(yi)(yi)日夜。從此(ci),一(yi)(yi)日或(huo)數震(zhen)(zhen),數日或(huo)-震(zhen)(zhen),雖(sui)不(bu)若前之猛,然(ran)而對逃避的難民如雪上加霜,又造成無(wu)數的傷(shang)殘。南河由城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)穿過,沖(chong)倒該城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)民房100多(duo)家,軍城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)署民房全行沖(chong)淌,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)身多(duo)有拆裂(lie)(lie),城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)垣倒塌百余(yu)(yu)丈,垛(duo)口俱落(luo)。有詩描述地(di)震(zhen)(zhen)時(shi)的情景:“……忽然(ran)大地(di)聲(sheng)(sheng)如吼,城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)傾(qing)(qing)屋裂(lie)(lie)無(wu)處走。第宅簸搖(yao)避山(shan)野(ye),山(shan)崩(beng)活葬深崖下。夫(fu)覓妻兮父(fu)尋子(zi),哭聲(sheng)(sheng)震(zhen)(zhen)天(tian)(tian)天(tian)(tian)不(bu)理。可憐(lian)階州十(shi)萬齒(chi),三萬余(yu)(yu)人(ren)同日死(si)。”
1879年(nian)7月(yue)1日(ri)(清光緒(xu)五年(nian)五月(yue)十二日(ri)),發生在甘(gan)肅武都(dou)、文縣之間(jian)的(de)(de)8級強烈地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)距今已有(you)(you)(you)133年(nian)。由于(yu)該(gai)地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)破(po)壞(huai)面積大(da),災(zai)情(qing)(qing)嚴重(zhong),當時(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)朝廷(ting)和地(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)報(bao)紙(zhi)都(dou)曾作過多次(ci)(ci)報(bao)導,也引起過清王朝的(de)(de)高度(du)重(zhong)視,光緒(xu)皇帝(di)曾不(bu)止一次(ci)(ci)的(de)(de)親自過問,下旨撥款,責(ze)令地(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)官吏作好救災(zai)工(gong)作,因此有(you)(you)(you)關(guan)這次(ci)(ci)地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)的(de)(de)文史資料較為豐富,既有(you)(you)(you)朝廷(ting)、地(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)報(bao)紙(zhi)的(de)(de)報(bao)導.又有(you)(you)(you)州縣地(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)志的(de)(de)記(ji)載.亦有(you)(you)(you)地(di)(di)(di)(di)方(fang)官府申(shen)報(bao)災(zai)情(qing)(qing)的(de)(de)奏折,還有(you)(you)(you)廟宇(yu)、祠(ci)堂(tang)、墓地(di)(di)(di)(di)的(de)(de)碑文記(ji)述。由于(yu)該(gai)次(ci)(ci)地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)發生在地(di)(di)(di)(di)質構造復雜、地(di)(di)(di)(di)形(xing)陡峻、交通(tong)不(bu)便的(de)(de)隴南山區,且地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)破(po)壞(huai)面積大(da),災(zai)情(qing)(qing)嚴重(zhong),時(shi)(shi)至今日(ri)對該(gai)次(ci)(ci)地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)仍缺乏系統(tong)的(de)(de)、具有(you)(you)(you)說服(fu)力的(de)(de)成果,屬于(yu)地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)與活動斷裂(lie)關(guan)系仍不(bu)明了的(de)(de)三大(da)地(di)(di)(di)(di)震(zhen)(zhen)之一。