Tremor strikes at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres in Haixi Prefecture; no immediate casualties reported
BEIJING — Friday, September 4, 2026 : A magnitude 5.1 earthquake jolted Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China’s Qinghai Province on Friday morning, seismological authorities reported.
The tremor struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, according to data released by the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC). The agency placed the epicentre at 37.84 degrees north latitude and 95.59 degrees east longitude.
Shallow earthquakes are typically felt across a wider surface area than deeper seismic events. The sparsely populated terrain of the Tibetan Plateau absorbed the brunt of the shaking, though light vibrations were registered across nearby settlements.
Provincial emergency management departments initiated standard monitoring protocols immediately following the shock. Local authorities in Haixi dispatched emergency teams and township officials to inspect rural residences, power lines, and transport infrastructure for damage. Initial assessments from local disaster mitigation personnel indicated no structural collapses or serious injuries in the immediate aftermath.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau remains one of the world’s most seismically active regions due to the ongoing tectonic collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. High-altitude autonomous prefectures like Haixi experience regular, low-to-moderate geological activity along intricate fault lines cutting through western China.
Transportation operators in the region carried out track inspections on nearby rail segments to ensure railway safety before resuming routine service. Seismologists continue tracking the epicentre for potential aftershocks.
