M4.1 Earthquake 196 km SW of Xihai, China — July 29, 2026
2026-07-29 02:23:24 UTC (2026-07-29) · approx. 9:23 AM UTC+7 local
On July 29, 2026 at 02:23 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 196 km SW of Xihai, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 35.5303°, 99.5429°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — 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 5.1 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 191 km NW of Oula Xiuma, China. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 7 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
99.5429°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Xihai, China?
The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 196 km SW of Xihai, China on July 29, 2026 at 02:23 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 191 km NW of Oula Xiuma, China. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Location
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tgjt). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 29, 2026). M4.1 Earthquake 196 km SW of Xihai, China — July 29, 2026. Retrieved August 14, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tgjt/