Shallow M5.4 Earthquake struck on Thursday Evening near Mianyang in China.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on September 3rd, 2026. Last updated September 4th, 2026.

A shallow and significant M5.4 earthquake struck under land 45 kilometer from Mianyang in China in the evening of Thursday September 3rd, 2026. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. 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, 45 kilometer (28 mi) north of Mianyang in Sichuan. 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:	Sep 3, 2026 19:39 (Shanghai Time) - Sep 3, 2026 11:39 Universal Time.
Location:	45 km north of Mianyang, Sichuan, China. Coordinates 31°50'45"N 104°30'24"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.4 Detected by 103 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.057 .
Depth:	10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI 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 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 34% likelyhood of between 10 and 100 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 93% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls between 1 and 10,000 million USD.

Roughly 48 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 48 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

An estimated 39,260 people were exposed to level VI. At this level, strong shaking and probably light damage can be expected. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 31 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of China .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
1,831,000	II	Very weak	None
30,530,000	III	Weak	Probably none
14,650,000	IV	Light	Likely none
573,400	V	Moderate	Very light
39,260	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 . Jiangyou in Sichuan, China is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 22 kilometer (14 mi) northwest of Jiangyou. Jiangyou experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly V. That level implies moderate shaking and very light damage.

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Chengdu is located 138 km to the south and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Mianyang is located 45 km to the south and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Nanchong is located 190 km to the south-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)
22 km (14 mi) SE from epicenter	Jiangyou Sichuan, China.	V Moderate
45 km (28 mi) S from epicenter	Mianyang Sichuan, China.	IV Light
60 km (37 mi) S from epicenter	Luojiang Sichuan, China.	IV Light
80 km (50 mi) S from epicenter	Deyang Sichuan, China.	IV Light
93 km (58 mi) E from epicenter	Pu’an Sichuan, China.	III Weak
100 km (62 mi) SE from epicenter	Tongchuan Sichuan, China.	III Weak
107 km (66 mi) NE from epicenter	Xiasi Sichuan, China.	III Weak
110 km (68 mi) SW from epicenter	Tianpeng Sichuan, China.	IV Light
122 km (76 mi) NE from epicenter	Bikou Gansu, China.	III Weak
124 km (77 mi) N from epicenter	Wenxian Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.	III Weak
138 km (86 mi) S from epicenter	Chengdu Sichuan, China.	IV Light
141 km (88 mi) NE from epicenter	Guangyuan Sichuan, China.	III Weak
143 km (89 mi) N from epicenter	Qiaotou Gansu, China.	III Weak
144 km (89 mi) E from epicenter	Langzhong Sichuan, China.	III Weak
150 km (93 mi) N from epicenter	Zhongzhai Gansu, China.	III Weak
153 km (95 mi) NE from epicenter	Luotang Gansu, China.	III Weak
157 km (98 mi) NE from epicenter	Chaotian Sichuan, China.	III Weak
157 km (98 mi) E from epicenter	Nanlong Sichuan, China.	III Weak
160 km (99 mi) N from epicenter	Waina Gansu, China.	III Weak
166 km (103 mi) E from epicenter	Jiachuan Sichuan, China.	III Weak
173 km (107 mi) N from epicenter	Hanwang Gansu, China.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) E from epicenter	Donghe Sichuan, China.	III Weak
175 km (109 mi) N from epicenter	Chengjiao Gansu, China.	III Weak
176 km (109 mi) N from epicenter	Dongjiang Gansu, China.	III Weak
177 km (110 mi) N from epicenter	Longnan Gansu, China.	III Weak
179 km (111 mi) N from epicenter	Liangshui Gansu, China.	III Weak
180 km (112 mi) SE from epicenter	Suining Sichuan, China.	III Weak
184 km (114 mi) N from epicenter	Majie Gansu, China.	III Weak
188 km (117 mi) SW from epicenter	Linqiong Sichuan, China.	III Weak
190 km (118 mi) SE from epicenter	Nanchong Sichuan, China.	III Weak
191 km (119 mi) N from epicenter	Anhua Gansu, China.	III Weak
192 km (119 mi) S from epicenter	Ziyang Sichuan, China.	III Weak
193 km (120 mi) SE from epicenter	Gaoping Sichuan, China.	III Weak
195 km (121 mi) NE from epicenter	Zuitai Gansu, China.	III Weak
197 km (122 mi) NE from epicenter	Hanyuan Shaanxi, China.	III Weak
198 km (123 mi) N from epicenter	Shawan Gansu, China.	III Weak
210 km (130 mi) S from epicenter	Meishan Sichuan, China.	III Weak
226 km (140 mi) NE from epicenter	Lüeyang Chengguanzhen Shaanxi, China.	III Weak
241 km (150 mi) NE from epicenter	Chengxian Chengguanzhen Gansu, China.
252 km (157 mi) SW from epicenter	Ya'an Sichuan, China.
252 km (157 mi) NE from epicenter	Mianyang Shaanxi, China.
254 km (158 mi) SE from epicenter	Guang’an Sichuan, China.	II Weak
257 km (160 mi) S from epicenter	Neijiang Sichuan, China.
264 km (164 mi) S from epicenter	Leshan Sichuan, China.
266 km (165 mi) SE from epicenter	Hechuan Chongqing, China.
273 km (170 mi) NE from epicenter	Hanzhong Shaanxi, China.
280 km (174 mi) S from epicenter	Zigong Sichuan, China.
281 km (175 mi) SE from epicenter	Longshui Chongqing, China.
289 km (180 mi) E from epicenter	Dazhou Sichuan, China.
290 km (180 mi) SE from epicenter	Beibei Chongqing, China.
299 km (186 mi) SE from epicenter	Bishan Chongqing, China.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is VI.

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 5 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 5 people have reported shaking in 5 places, all within 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:

Deyang, Sichuan, China: 1 person.
Xian, Shaanxi, China: 1 person.
Dawan, Sichuan, China: 1 person.
Mianyang, Sichuan, China: 1 person.
Nanchong, Sichuan, 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.

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

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 January 26th, 2026, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 266 km (165 mi) further northwest. An even stronger magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck on August 8th, 2017.

In total, 5 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.4 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 2 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 5.4. 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 04/09/26 05:18 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.