M5.5 earthquake — 268 km SSE of Dunhuang, China
A moderate magnitude 5.5 earthquake occurred 268 km SSE of Dunhuang, China on Aug 18, 2026 at 21:36 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 6 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M5.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 6.0 km |
| Coordinates | 37.851, 95.569 |
| Time | Aug 18, 21:36 UTC |
| Location | 268 km SSE of Dunhuang, China |
| USGS event ID | us6000tlrj |
What this magnitude typically means
Moderate earthquakes are widely felt and can cause light damage close to the epicenter. The shaking you actually experience depends on how far away you are and what kind of ground you are on. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.7 | 5 km | Aug 19, 05:22 UTC | 265 km SSE of Dunhuang, China |
| M5.2 | 12 km | Aug 20, 09:49 UTC | 270 km SSE of Dunhuang, China |
| M4.5 | 17 km | Aug 18, 21:59 UTC | 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.