M5.2 Earthquake 201 km ENE of Nagqu, China — October 22, 2026
2026-10-22 15:12:04 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 9:12 PM UTC+6 local
Aftershock of the M7.0 mainshock.
On October 22, 2026 at 15:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 201 km ENE of Nagqu, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 32.4401°, 93.8669°. This earthquake was detected by 70 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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 7.0 mainshock that occurred 2 hours ago 191 km ENE of Nagqu, China. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for months to years as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
93.8669°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Nagqu, China?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 201 km ENE of Nagqu, China on October 22, 2026 at 15:12 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 32.4401°, 93.8669°, which is 201 km ENE of Nagqu, China.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M7.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 7.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 191 km ENE of Nagqu, China. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u44n). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 22, 2026). M5.2 Earthquake 201 km ENE of Nagqu, China — October 22, 2026. Retrieved October 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u44n/