M4.9 Earthquake 10 km WSW of Bowangshan, China — June 15, 2025
2025-06-15 10:37:49 UTC (2025-06-15) · approx. 5:37 PM UTC+7 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On June 15, 2025 at 10:37 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 10 km WSW of Bowangshan, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 28.2788°, 104.9538°. This earthquake was detected by 125 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 17 days ago 14 km N of Xunchang, China. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 8 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
104.9538°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Bowangshan, China?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 10 km WSW of Bowangshan, China on June 15, 2025 at 10:37 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 28.2788°, 104.9538°, which is 10 km WSW of Bowangshan, China.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 14 km N of Xunchang, China. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qkfb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, June 15, 2025). M4.9 Earthquake 10 km WSW of Bowangshan, China — June 15, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qkfb/