Earthquakes in China — August 2026

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

17 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 well above the China monthly average of 13 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, 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 12 in the magnitude 4 range, 5 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 28 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 33% above the 13 events China averages per month across the 23 months on record.