Shallow M5.5 Earthquake struck on Monday Afternoon near Dianga in China.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on January 26th, 2026. Last updated January 27th, 2026.

In the afternoon of Monday January 26th, 2026, a shallow and significant MAG-5.5 earthquake hit under land 9 kilometer from Dianga in China. Earthquakes like this can cause significant economic damage but are usually unlikely to result on large numbers of fatalities.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in China, 9 kilometer (6 mi) east-southeast of Dianga in Gansu. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Jan 26, 2026 14:56 (Shanghai Time) - Jan 26, 2026 06:56 Universal Time.
Location:	9 km ESE of Dianga, Gansu, China. Coordinates 34°1'40"N 103°18'17"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.5 Detected by 154 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.047 .
Depth:	10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Significant economic impact

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 35% likelyhood of between 10 and 100 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 94% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 1,000 million USD.

Roughly 10 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 10 million have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

An estimated 20,490 people were exposed to level VI. At this level, strong shaking and probably light damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 9 million) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably no damage is expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of China .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
127,700	II	Very weak	None
9,198,000	III	Weak	Probably none
742,800	IV	Light	Likely none
10,390	V	Moderate	Very light
20,490	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in China . Located 9 kilometer (6 mi) east-southeast of the epicenter of this earthquake, Dianga (Gansu, China) is the nearest significant population center. Dianga experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly V. That level implies moderate shaking and very light damage.

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Lanzhou is located 231 km to the north-northeast (intensity unknown, possibly low). Tianshui is located 232 km to the east-northeast (intensity unknown, possibly low). Dingxi is located 210 km to the north-east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
9 km (6 mi) WNW from epicenter	Dianga Gansu, China.	V Moderate
65 km (40 mi) NNE from epicenter	Liulin Gansu, China.	IV Light
74 km (46 mi) N from epicenter	Lintan Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.	IV Light
76 km (47 mi) NNE from epicenter	Xincheng Gansu, China.	IV Light
88 km (55 mi) ENE from epicenter	Hadapu Zhen Gansu, China.	IV Light
97 km (60 mi) ENE from epicenter	Lichuan Zhen Gansu, China.	IV Light
100 km (62 mi) E from epicenter	Tanchang Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.	IV Light
101 km (63 mi) ESE from epicenter	Zhouqu Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.	III Weak
112 km (70 mi) NNW from epicenter	Hezuo Gansu, China.	IV Light
114 km (71 mi) W from epicenter	Nima Gansu, China.	IV Light
125 km (78 mi) ESE from epicenter	Shawan Gansu, China.	III Weak
134 km (83 mi) ESE from epicenter	Jiaogong Gansu, China.	III Weak
139 km (86 mi) SE from epicenter	Zhongzhai Gansu, China.	III Weak
144 km (89 mi) E from epicenter	Baihe Gansu, China.	III Weak
146 km (91 mi) ENE from epicenter	Mali Gansu, China.	III Weak
149 km (93 mi) NNW from epicenter	Labuleng Gansu, China.	III Weak
149 km (93 mi) E from epicenter	Baiguan Gansu, China.	III Weak
150 km (93 mi) ENE from epicenter	Gaolou Gansu, China.	III Weak
150 km (93 mi) ESE from epicenter	Puchi Gansu, China.	III Weak
154 km (96 mi) ESE from epicenter	Liangshui Gansu, China.	III Weak
156 km (97 mi) ENE from epicenter	Tange Gansu, China.	III Weak
159 km (99 mi) ENE from epicenter	Yuanyang Gansu, China.	III Weak
162 km (101 mi) ENE from epicenter	Shandan Gansu, China.	III Weak
164 km (102 mi) ENE from epicenter	Wushan Gansu, China.	III Weak
165 km (103 mi) ESE from epicenter	Majie Gansu, China.	III Weak
165 km (103 mi) ESE from epicenter	Longnan Gansu, China.	III Weak
166 km (103 mi) ESE from epicenter	Chengjiao Gansu, China.	III Weak
169 km (105 mi) E from epicenter	Shiqiao Gansu, China.	III Weak
170 km (106 mi) ENE from epicenter	Simen Gansu, China.	III Weak
171 km (106 mi) ESE from epicenter	Anhua Gansu, China.	III Weak
173 km (107 mi) E from epicenter	Lixian Gansu, China.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) SE from epicenter	Wenxian Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) E from epicenter	Jiangxi Gansu, China.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) ESE from epicenter	Hanwang Gansu, China.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) N from epicenter	Linxia Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.	III Weak
177 km (110 mi) E from epicenter	Heba Gansu, China.	III Weak
177 km (110 mi) ENE from epicenter	Luomen Gansu, China.	III Weak
179 km (111 mi) E from epicenter	Luoyu Gansu, China.	III Weak
183 km (114 mi) E from epicenter	Shili Gansu, China.	III Weak
183 km (114 mi) E from epicenter	Hanyuan Gansu, China.	III Weak
184 km (114 mi) ENE from epicenter	Pan’an Gansu, China.	III Weak
200 km (124 mi) E from epicenter	Yanguan Gansu, China.	III Weak
202 km (126 mi) ENE from epicenter	Gangu Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.	III Weak
203 km (126 mi) ENE from epicenter	Xinxing Gansu, China.	III Weak
210 km (130 mi) NE from epicenter	Dingxi Gansu, China.	III Weak
231 km (144 mi) NNE from epicenter	Lanzhou Gansu, China.
232 km (144 mi) ENE from epicenter	Tianshui Gansu, China.
236 km (147 mi) ENE from epicenter	Xingguo Gansu, China.
275 km (171 mi) ESE from epicenter	Lüeyang Chengguanzhen Shaanxi, China.
284 km (176 mi) NNW from epicenter	Nianbo Qinghai, China.
291 km (181 mi) NNE from epicenter	Baiyin Gansu, China.
293 km (182 mi) SE from epicenter	Guangyuan Sichuan, China.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VII. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in China.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Lanzhou, Gansu, China: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since December 18th, 2023, when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit 195 km (121 mi) further north-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck on August 8th, 2017.

In total, 4 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.5 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 3 years.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.5. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 27/01/26 11:18 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.