A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck Xinlong County in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on Thursday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, the CENC reported, shaking parts of the mountainous region and prompting local authorities to assess potential damage. No immediate reports of casualties or major destruction were available as of Thursday evening, though emergency response teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to conduct safety checks and monitor aftershocks.
Residents in nearby towns reported feeling strong tremors, with some describing brief but intense shaking that caused household items to fall. Local media said that while communications and power remained largely stable, precautionary inspections were being carried out at schools, bridges, and public infrastructure.
Sichuan, one of China’s most seismically active provinces, has a history of devastating earthquakes. The region sits on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates collide—part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” one of the world’s most active seismic zones.
In 2008, Sichuan was hit by a catastrophic 7.9-magnitude earthquake that killed nearly 90,000 people and left millions homeless, underscoring the vulnerability of the province’s terrain and population centers. Since then, Chinese authorities have strengthened early warning systems and improved emergency response capabilities in high-risk regions.
Following Thursday’s quake, the Sichuan Earthquake Administration activated a Level-IV emergency response, the lowest of China’s four-tier disaster response system, to coordinate rescue preparedness and ensure rapid information flow from local monitoring stations.
Experts from the China Earthquake Administration said that while the 5.4-magnitude quake was moderate, shallow earthquakes at a depth of 10 kilometers can still cause damage to poorly constructed buildings and pose risks in mountainous areas prone to landslides. They urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks in the coming days.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management said it is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining contact with local authorities in Ganzi Prefecture. Officials reaffirmed that safety inspections and disaster relief measures would continue as more information becomes available.
As one of the most earthquake-prone nations in the world, China experiences frequent seismic activity, particularly in the country’s western and southwestern regions. Scientists continue to study the area’s complex tectonic dynamics to improve forecasting and enhance public safety.
