Magnitude
M4.5
- Depth
- 10.0 km
- Source
- GFZ
Qinghai · Qaidam
Country overviewChina · Qinghai
M4.5 Earthquake near Qaidam, Qinghai (China)
Map
About this earthquake
On August 18, 2026 at 21:59 UTC, a magnitude M4.5 earthquake occurred near Qaidam, Qinghai (China). With a focal depth of about 10 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude are clearly felt; minor damage to vulnerable buildings is possible.
The data is provided by GFZ and cross-checked across seismological networks. China: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 3 earthquakes, the strongest at M5.4.
Details
Depth profile
Shallow
10 km
10 km — shallower than the regional average (19.3 km)
Regional average: 19.3 km
Why depth matters
Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.
Depth classes per USGS
Qinghai
Context for this earthquake
05 Oct 2025 – 05 Oct 2026 · M ≥ 3.0 · 74 Catalogue entries
Sufficiently reliable matching data are not currently available for a direct comparison. The area profile shows the available records and their limitations.
Open seismic profileHistoric earthquake map · China
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Country statistics · China
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Stats (last 24h)
Global (24h)
718
Country (24h)
China
3