M4.5 Earthquake 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China — August 18, 2026
2026-08-18 21:59:55 UTC (6 hours ago) · approx. 3:59 AM UTC+6 local
Aftershock of the M5.9 mainshock.
On August 18, 2026 at 21:59 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 37.7580°, 95.4104°. This earthquake was detected by 51 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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 5.9 mainshock that occurred 6 hours ago 270 km WSW of Yanglong, China. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
95.4104°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Dunhuang, China?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China on August 18, 2026 at 21:59 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 37.7580°, 95.4104°, which is 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.9 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred earlier 270 km WSW of Yanglong, China. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tlrq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 18, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China — August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 19, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tlrq/