A significant seismic event measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale struck Tewo County within Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, on Monday afternoon. The tremor occurred precisely at 2:56 p.m. local time, as confirmed by the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
Initial reports indicate the quake originated at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter pinpointed at coordinates 34.06 degrees north latitude and 103.25 degrees east longitude. Crucially, local authorities have confirmed that as of 3:30 p.m. on Monday, no casualties have been reported from the affected region.
In swift reaction to the seismic activity, emergency protocols were immediately enacted. The Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture government activated a Level 3 emergency response, mobilizing local rescue and assessment teams to evaluate potential damage and coordinate relief efforts.
Concurrently, the China Earthquake Administration initiated a comprehensive Level 4 national emergency response. This coordinated effort involves seismic bureaus from multiple provinces including Gansu, Sichuan, and Qinghai, focusing on collaborative damage assessment, enhanced seismic monitoring, and analysis of potential aftershock patterns. All relevant units have been instructed to maintain continuous situation reporting and implement coordinated response measures.
Historical seismic data reveals significant activity in this region, with 65 earthquakes measuring magnitude 3 or higher recorded within a 200-kilometer radius of the current epicenter over the past five years. The most substantial recent event was the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Jishishan County in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture on December 18, 2023.