• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 on the Richter Scale struck China in the early hours of Friday, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported. The tremor occurred at 06:29 am IST (08:59 am local time), and the epicentre was at latitude 25.05°N and longitude 99.72°E, with a depth of 10 km, in Yunnan province.

The NCS posted the update on X, saying, "EQ of M: 4.5, On: 16/05/2025 06:29:51 IST, Lat: 25.05 N, Long: 99.72 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: China."

Up to now, no immediate reports of casualties or damage have been received. Authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation, and details are awaited. Light tremors of the earthquake were experienced lightly in surrounding towns, which made the people come out for a brief moment. Normalcy soon returned, however. Although this quake was quite moderate, shallow earthquakes like this one can be more hazardous. Seismic waves from shallow quakes travel less distance before striking the Earth's surface, potentially causing more damage to buildings and infrastructure, depending on the density of population and terrain. China lies on the Eurasian tectonic plate, which renders it one of the world's most earthquake-hazardous nations. The country often feels seismic activity, particularly in areas close to fault lines.

This second quake comes just after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake which hit Tibet and China on May 12 at 02:41 am IST. That quake had a depth of 9 kilometres and likewise did not report significant damage.

Also read:  China Warns Against ‘Bullying’ After US-China Trade Deal, Says Tariff Wars Have No Winners

Also In News