USGS · October 22, 2026

Magnitude 7.0 earthquake near Dartang, China

A magnitude 7.0 earthquake was recorded near 191 km ENE of Nagqu, China on Oct 22, 2026, 10:33 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+8), at a depth of about 18.0 km, according to USGS.

USGSFelt by 4 people · community intensity VII (very strong)Shaking VIIIPAGER OrangeShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist

Updated 2026-10-22 17:34 UTC

The full record

Magnitude
M 7.0 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
Location
191 km ENE of Nagqu, China
Local time at the epicentre
Oct 22, 2026, 10:33 PM — UTC+8
Time (UTC)
2026-10-22 14:33 UTC
Depth
18.0 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
Coordinates
32.380, 93.780
Felt reports
Felt by 4 people · community intensity VII (very strong)
Estimated shaking
VIII · Severe
PAGER impact alert
Orange — A regional response is likely: significant casualties and damage are probable.
Tsunami
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Significance
1003 / 1000 · major event
Solution quality
131 seismic stations used · 21° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
Review status
Reviewed by a seismologist
Catalog
USGS

Open the official catalog record

Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes

The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.

What the shaking was like

Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.

Estimated instrumental shaking VIII (Severe): Considerable damage in ordinary buildings; heavy furniture overturned.

People who reported it described intensity VII (Very strong): Difficult to stand; considerable damage in poorly built structures.

Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.

Who lives nearby

About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 0 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.

PlaceDistancePopulation
Dartang53.9 km SSE—
Laxi56.9 km SSE—
Zaindainxoi59.9 km S—

Earthquake history in this area

12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960.

Other earthquakes near this epicentre

1 other event within 100 km in the last 30 days.

Be first to know about the next earthquake near 191 km ENE of Nagqu, China

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Frequently asked questions

How strong was the 191 km ENE of Nagqu, China earthquake?

Magnitude 7.0 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 18.0 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.

Exactly when did it happen?

Oct 22, 2026, 10:33 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+8). In universal time: 2026-10-22 14:33 UTC.

Was it felt?

Felt by 4 people · community intensity VII (very strong). Considerable damage in ordinary buildings; heavy furniture overturned.

Was there a tsunami warning?

No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.

Which towns are closest to the epicentre?

The closest is Dartang, 53.9 km SSE.

Are earthquakes normal in this area?

Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.0 (191 km ENE of Nagqu, China, 2026), and 1 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.

How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?

Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.

About this page

Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.