M5.0 Earthquake 288 km S of Dunhuang, China — January 14, 2026
2026-01-14 23:18:18 UTC (2026-01-14) · approx. 5:18 AM UTC+6 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations.
On January 14, 2026 at 23:18 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 288 km S of Dunhuang, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 37.5943°, 95.1589°. This earthquake was detected by 132 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
95.1589°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Dunhuang, China?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 288 km S of Dunhuang, China on January 14, 2026 at 23:18 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 37.5943°, 95.1589°, which is 288 km S of Dunhuang, China.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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: us7000rpqr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 14, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 288 km S of Dunhuang, China — January 14, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rpqr/