M4.9 Earthquake 139 km SE of Kuqa, China — February 23, 2026
2026-02-23 04:12:07 UTC (2026-02-23) · approx. 10:12 AM UTC+6 local
On February 23, 2026 at 04:12 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 139 km SE of Kuqa, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 40.8841°, 84.1769°. This earthquake was detected by 129 seismic stations with good 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.
Earthquake Details
84.1769°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Kuqa, China?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 139 km SE of Kuqa, China on February 23, 2026 at 04:12 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 40.8841°, 84.1769°, which is 139 km SE of Kuqa, 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.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sayi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, February 23, 2026). M4.9 Earthquake 139 km SE of Kuqa, China — February 23, 2026. Retrieved May 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sayi/