Earthquakes in China — August 2026

15 earthquakes were recorded in China during August 2026, an average of 0.5 per day.

15 reached magnitude 4 or above and 5 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 15 km.

The month's largest event in China was a magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Dunhuang, China on 18 August 2026 at 21:36 UTC. A magnitude 5.9 earthquake radiates roughly 10,676 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is close to the China monthly average of 13 events over the period we cover, and down from the 24 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, 5 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 18 August, when 2 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.9 near Dunhuang, China on 18 August at 10 km; M5.2 near Dunhuang, China on 20 August at 10 km; M5.1 near Xunchang, China on 07 August at 10 km.

That is 15% above the 13 events China averages per month across the 21 months on record.