M6.3 Earthquake 260 km SSE of Dunhuang, China — June 16, 2026
2026-06-16 09:06:55 UTC (3 hours ago) · approx. 3:06 PM UTC+6 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 7.8 (severe).
On June 16, 2026 at 09:06 UTC, a magnitude 6.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 260 km SSE of Dunhuang, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 37.8888°, 95.4028°. The USGS PAGER system issued a orange alert level for this event, indicating regional impact possible. This earthquake was detected by 110 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 1000, making it one of the more significant events of the week. The nearest populated place is Golmud (population 215,214).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 13 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 55,627 |
| MMI 4 | light | 389,717 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 8,394 |
| MMI 6 | strong | 251 |
| MMI 7 | very strong | 79 |
| MMI 8 | severe | 7,833 |
Earthquake Details
95.4028°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.3 earthquake near Dunhuang, China?
The magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck 260 km SSE of Dunhuang, China on June 16, 2026 at 09:06 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 37.8888°, 95.4028°, which is 260 km SSE of Dunhuang, China. The nearest populated place is Golmud (population 215,214).
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.3 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months 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: us7000stbz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, June 16, 2026). M6.3 Earthquake 260 km SSE of Dunhuang, China — June 16, 2026. Retrieved June 16, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000stbz/