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. Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 9 days ago 272 km SSE of Dunhuang, China. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 19 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 272 km SSE of Dunhuang, China. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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.
Actions
Location
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 April 10, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rpqr/