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Very strong mag. 6.0 earthquake - 33 km northwest of Dali, Yunnan, China, on Friday, 21 May 2021 at 13:48 (GMT)

Very strong mag. 6.0 earthquake - 33 km northwest of Dali, Yunnan, China, on 21 May 9:48 pm (GMT +8)

Very strong mag. 6.0 earthquake - 33 km northwest of Dali, Yunnan, China, on 21 May 9:48 pm (GMT +8) Very strong mag. 6.0 earthquake - 33 km northwest of Dali, Yunnan, China, on 21 May 9:48 pm (GMT +8)

Very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake at 10 km depth

21 May 13:55 UTC: First to report: GFZ after 7 minutes.
21 May 13:57: Magnitude recalculated from 5.9 to 5.8. Epicenter location corrected by 3 km (1.9 mi) towards E.
21 May 15:04: Magnitude recalculated from 5.8 to 6.0. Epicenter location corrected by 2 km (1.2 mi) towards E.
Update Fri, 21 May 2021, 19:18

China's Yunnan Province hit by magnitude 6 quake - at least 2 killed and 17 injured

State media reported that at least 2 people were killed and 17 others injured after a series of strong quakes hit Yangbi County in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan near the city of Dali earlier today. Following several quakes of magnitudes up to 5.3, the strongest shock occurred after about 5 hours of calm on late Friday 21 May evening at 9.48 pm local time.
According to local official media and seismologists, some buildings had collapsed and others were damaged. One of the persons confirmed dead was a truck driver who was hit by a falling rock. 3 more people were reported to have been buried under rubble.
Local media show significant shaking indoors, lamps and other hanging objects swinging, items falling from shelves and people running and gathering outdoors:
China's Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) warned people to "stay away from buildings" in a post on the Twitter-like Weibo platform.


Several earthquakes including one magnitude 5.3 had been occurring in the hours preceding the main shock.

Yunnan is one of China's most earthquake-prone regions. It is affected by the ongoing collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which has been forming not only the wider Himalayan mountain ranges, but also results in many earthquakes, often of large magnitude.
A similar magnitude 6.0 quake occurred on 7 October 2014 also in Yunnan, very close to China's borders with Myanmar and Laos. It injured hundreds of people and left 100,000 homeless.
The strongest quake in recent times in the region was the catastrophic 7.9-magnitude Sichuan earthquake on 12 May 2008. It hit the southwest Sichuan province and claimed an estimated 87,000 dead or missing.
The 24 February 2003 Bachu earthquake in neighboring Xinjiang was a powerful 6.8-magnitude event that killed 268 people and caused very significant damage.
Update Fri, 21 May 2021, 14:00

Significant magnitude 5.8 earthquake 35 km northwest of Dali, China

5.8 quake 35 km northwest of Dali, Yunnan, China, 21 May 9:48 pm (GMT +8)
5.8 quake 35 km northwest of Dali, Yunnan, China, 21 May 9:48 pm (GMT +8)
A shallow magnitude 5.8 earthquake was reported in the evening near Dali, Yunnan, China.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the quake hit on Friday 21 May 2021 at 9:48 pm local time at a shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
Our monitoring service identified a second report from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) which listed the quake at magnitude 6.0. A third agency, France's Réseau National de Surveillance Sismique (RéNaSS), reported the same quake at magnitude 5.5.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicenter. It should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves, broken windows, etc.
In Dali (pop. 134,000) located 35 km from the epicenter, the quake should have been felt as light shaking.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Lijiang (pop. 1,137,600) located 131 km from the epicenter.
VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available. If you're in the area, please send us your experience through our reporting mechanism, either online or via our mobile app. This will help us provide more first-hand updates to anyone around the globe who wants to know more about this quake.

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Earthquake details

Date & timeMay 21, 2021 13:48:38 UTC
Local time at epicenter21 May 9:48 pm (GMT +8)
StatusConfirmed
Magnitude6
Depth10.0 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude25.73°N / 99.92°E (Yunnan, China)
Antipode25.73°S / 80.08°W
Shaking intensityLight shaking
Felt14 reports
Primary data sourceGFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences)
Nearest volcanoTengchong (151 km / 94 mi)
Nearby towns and cities33 km (21 mi) WNW of Dali (Yunnan Sheng) (pop: 235,300) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
130 km (81 mi) SSW of Lijiang (Yunnan Sheng) (pop: 1,137,600) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
200 km (124 mi) WSW of Dadukou (Sichuan) (pop: 461,500) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
208 km (129 mi) NW of Jianshui (pop: 490,000) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
234 km (145 mi) S of Shangri-La (pop: 130,000) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
254 km (158 mi) WNW of Longquan (pop: 91,500) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
273 km (170 mi) WNW of Lianran (pop: 106,800) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
284 km (176 mi) WNW of Majie (pop: 131,700) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
287 km (178 mi) WNW of Haikou (pop: 112,600) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
292 km (181 mi) WNW of Yunnanfu (pop: 3,855,300) | Show on map | Quakes nearby
Weather at epicenter at time of quakeScattered Clouds 18.2°C (65 F), humidity: 85%, wind: 2 m/s (4 kts) from SW
Estimated seismic energy released6.3 x 1013 joules (17.5 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 15080 tons of TNT or 0.9 atomic bombs!) | about seismic energy
Show interactive Map
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Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies

Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
Mag.DepthLocationSource
6.010 kmYunnan, ChinaGFZ
5.510 kmChina: Near KunmingRENASS
6.112 kmYUNNAN, CHINAEMSC
5.910 kmYunnan, ChinaBMKG
5.8100 kmChinaNCS
6.19 km28 Km NW of Dali, ChinaUSGS
6.010 kmYunnan, ChinaGeoAu

User reports for this quake (15)

User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.
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Dali / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : The whole house shaked was the most intense in the middle of it. Some picture frame fell and some glass but nothing serious. Quite scrary. | 7 users found this interesting.  
near Yunnanfu (308.3 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 30-60 s : This is the third quake I've experience in Kunming and each has started with my office chair on wheels moving a few cms and the lights swinging. This time they were swinging in an arc of maybe 20 cms. While looking from the window on the 24th f | 6 users found this interesting.  
Zhaotong / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : The quake wasn't too strong but I could feel the building swaying a bit. Hanging objects were swinging and open doors were creaking. (I live on the 13th floor.) | 8 users found this interesting.  
Hanoi, Vietnam / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / complex motion difficult to describe / 20-30 s : Very weak shaking. I am on the 21st floor. Felt dizzy like my sense of balance was gone and wondered whether it was an earthquake | 7 users found this interesting.  
Luang Prabang laos / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s : feel a liitlexxxxxxxxxxxx | 6 users found this interesting.  
Hanoi, Vietnam (798.9 km SE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : 10th floor. Cats were slightly alarmed with wide eyes, me too probably. Wall popped a little with the movement. | 5 users found this interesting.  
Kunming / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : Everyone ran outside | 5 users found this interesting.  
Taken in Kunming (public domain)
Kunming. (305.4 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : Juste balancing regularly. Se live AT thé 30th floor | 5 users found this interesting.  
Lijiang, Yunnan (128.4 km NNE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Not much, but noticeable.  
Kunming (昆明市) / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s
Lijiang (129.5 km NNE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s
Kunming, Yunnan, China (308.9 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / several minutes
Kunming (299.7 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s (reported through our app)
Chiangmai (779.2 km S of epicenter) [Map] / not felt (reported through our app)
Kunming (286.9 km ESE of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s (reported through our app)

Aftershocks

[More info]

Recorded aftershocks, latest first (36 quakes)

Date and timeMag
Depth
LocationDetails
Aug 11, 2021 11:11
1 year 42 weeks ago
2.8

9 km
37 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 25, 2021 22:37
2 years ago
3.0

10 km
33 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 24, 2021 00:43
2 years ago
3.1

8 km
20 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 24, 2021 00:10
2 years ago
3.0

8 km
21 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 22, 2021 16:17
2 years ago
2.9

9 km
22 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 22, 2021 15:30
2 years ago
2.9

12 km
25 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 22, 2021 14:30
2 years ago
3.2

11 km
28 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 22, 2021 12:14
2 years ago
5.1

10 km
29 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 22, 2021 09:24
2 years ago
3.3

10 km
32 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 22, 2021 01:48
2 years ago
4.0

12 km
33 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 22, 2021 00:36
2 years ago
3.4

12 km
33 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 21:08
2 years ago
2.9

12 km
26 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 20:10
2 years ago
3.4

12 km
27 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 18:28
2 years ago
3.9

10 km
31 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 18:24
2 years ago
3.0

10 km
34 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 17:50
2 years ago
3.3

14 km
21 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 17:36
2 years ago
3.5

9 km
28 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 16:56
2 years ago
3.2

9 km
31 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 16:53
2 years ago
3.2

8 km
31 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 16:51
2 years ago
4.0

8 km
37 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 16:24
2 years ago
3.0

8 km
36 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 15:23
2 years ago
4.5

8 km
23 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 15:22
2 years ago
3.5

8 km
34 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 15:18
2 years ago
3.0

8 km
24 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 15:13
2 years ago
3.8

8 km
28 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 15:08
2 years ago
3.0

8 km
23 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:59
2 years ago
3.5

8 km
28 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:52
2 years ago
2.9

8 km
24 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:31
2 years ago
5.2

8 km
24 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:30
2 years ago
3.1

8 km
32 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:19
2 years ago
3.0

8 km
26 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:15
2 years ago
4.0

8 km
25 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:03
2 years ago
3.9

8 km
28 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 14:02
2 years ago
4.1

8 km
33 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 13:55
2 years ago
5.0

8 km
34 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore
May 21, 2021 13:53
2 years ago
4.1

9 km
24 km W of Dali, Yunnan, ChinaMore

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