Earthquakes in China — December 2024

10 earthquakes were recorded in China during December 2024, an average of 0.3 per day.

10 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 18 km.

The month's largest event in China was a magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Rabang, China on 08 December 2024 at 18:12 UTC. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake radiates roughly 85 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the China monthly average of 13 events over the period we cover, and up from the 7 recorded the previous month.

100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 10 in the magnitude 4 range.

Activity peaked on 17 December, when 2 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M4.5 near Rabang, China on 08 December at 10 km; M4.5 near Dezhing Township, China on 07 December at 39 km; M4.4 near 乌鲁木齐, China on 17 December at 10 km.

That is 21% below the 13 events China averages per month across the 22 months on record.