An earthquake occurred in southern Mongolia on December 4, 1957, measuring Mw 7.8–8.1 and assigned XII (Extreme) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Surface faulting was observed in the aftermath with peak vertical and horizontal scarp reaching 9 m (30 ft).

[12] In Mongolia, escape tectonics created a network of active faults to support the strike-slip stresses.

[7] On April 7, 1958, another large earthquake measuring M 6.8 struck, located in the epicentral region of the mainshock.

[9] Despite attaining the maximum value on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale of XII (Extreme), the earthquake did not cause significant disruption to population centers owing to its remote and unpopulated location.

[9] Due to good weather, shepherds of these herding communities were outside, which limited the death toll to 30.

At the Bakhar Mountains [ceb], a 15 km (9.3 mi) long and 800 m (2,600 ft) wide portion of the earth subsided due to the earthquake.