M4.5 earthquake — 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China
An magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China on Aug 18, 2026 at 21:59 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 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 | M4.5 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | 37.758, 95.410 |
| Time | Aug 18, 21:59 UTC |
| Location | 274 km SSE of Dunhuang, China |
| USGS event ID | us6000tlrq |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. 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 | 14 km | Aug 19, 05:22 UTC | 265 km SSE of Dunhuang, China |
| M5.9 | 19 km | Aug 18, 21:36 UTC | 270 km WSW of Yanglong, China |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.