M3.6
Depth:
10.0 km
M3.6 Earthquake near Qaidam, Qinghai (China)
About this earthquake
On August 20, 2026 at 10:05 UTC, a magnitude M3.6 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 often felt but rarely cause damage.
The event was recorded by EMSC. China: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 3 earthquakes, the strongest at M5.2.
Map
Depth profile
Shallow
10 km
10 km — shallower than the regional average (18.8 km)
Regional average: 18.8 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
Historic earthquake map · China
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Country statistics · China
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Stats (last 24h)
Global (24h)
968
Country (24h)
China
3