Moderate Earthquake, Massive Damage, Yunnan, China

Quake measuring 5 on Richter scale rocked Western Yunnan, destroying about 600 houses and damaging up to 18,000 others

The earthquake occurred in western Yunnan about 85 km (55 miles) NE of Dali at a depth of 35 km (21.7 miles) early Monday local time.

The tremor has affected 302,000 people, with 31 injured and 61,000 relocated, but no deaths were reported so far, China’s official news agency Xinhua said. “The quake flattened 579 houses and damaged another 17,400.”

China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs has sent tents, war clothing, and rice to the victims, Xinhua added.

According to other reports, about 400 livestock, including pigs, sheep and chicken had been killed in the quake.

10-degree Map Centered at 25°N,100°E

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude: 4.9 Mw
• Date-Time: Sunday, November 01, 2009 at 21:07:23 UTC    [Monday, November 02, 2009 at 05:07:23 AM at epicenter]
• Location: 25.919°N, 100.748°E
• Depth: 35 km (21.7 miles)
• Region: YUNNAN, CHINA
• Distances:
  • 85 km (55 miles) NE of Dali, Yunnan, China
  • 120 km (75 miles) SW of Panzhihua (Dukou), Sichuan, China
  • 700 km (435 miles) SW of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
  • 2130 km (1320 miles) SW of BEIJING, Beijing, China
• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 10.7 km (6.6 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID:  us2009nla2

Seismic Hazard Map

Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green

Related Links:

• FEWW Earthquake Index