M4.2 Earthquake 257 km SSE of Dunhuang, China — June 16, 2026
2026-06-16 21:52:45 UTC (2026-06-16) · approx. 3:52 AM UTC+6 local
On June 16, 2026 at 21:52 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 257 km SSE of Dunhuang, China, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 37.8960°, 95.3104°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
95.3104°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Dunhuang, China?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 257 km SSE of Dunhuang, China on June 16, 2026 at 21:52 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Location
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000stia). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, June 16, 2026). M4.2 Earthquake 257 km SSE of Dunhuang, China — June 16, 2026. Retrieved July 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000stia/