Earthquakes in China — September 2026

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

15 reached magnitude 4 or above and 6 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 10 km.

The month's largest event in China was a magnitude 5.4 earthquake near Jiangyou, China on 03 September 2026 at 11:39 UTC. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake radiates roughly 1,898 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 17 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 9 in the magnitude 4 range, 6 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 19 September, when 2 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.4 near Jiangyou, China on 03 September at 10 km; M5.2 near Dunhuang, China on 03 September at 10 km; M5.0 near Xunchang, China on 25 September at 10 km.

That is 15% above the 13 events China averages per month across the 23 months on record.