M5.2 Earthquake 34 km WSW of Zhaotong, China — January 19, 2026
2026-01-19 11:32:06 UTC (2026-01-19) · approx. 6:32 PM UTC+7 local
Felt by 2 people across nearby locations.
On January 19, 2026 at 11:32 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 34 km WSW of Zhaotong, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 27.1457°, 103.4200°. This earthquake was detected by 102 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 417, 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.
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 2 citizen responses 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
103.4200°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Zhaotong, China?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 34 km WSW of Zhaotong, China on January 19, 2026 at 11:32 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 27.1457°, 103.4200°, which is 34 km WSW of Zhaotong, 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.
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: us7000rqjl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 19, 2026). M5.2 Earthquake 34 km WSW of Zhaotong, China — January 19, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rqjl/