“Breaking News: Magnitude 5.5 Earthquake Strikes Dezhou, Shandong, China – August 6, 2023
A powerful earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit Dezhou, Shandong, China, at 2:33 am (GMT+8) on Sunday, August 6, 2023. The tremor, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 km beneath the epicenter, was reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a key international agency that monitors seismic activity worldwide.
Preliminary data suggests that the earthquake was widely felt by residents in the area around the epicenter. It may have caused light to moderate damage in Dezhou, a city with a population of 379,600, located 21 km from the epicenter. Meanwhile, weaker shaking might have been felt in other regions such as Linqing, Hengshui, Changqing, Jinan, Nangong, Liaocheng, and Tai’an.
It’s important to note that the exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the earthquake could be revised in the coming hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations.
Our thoughts are with the people in the affected area, and we urge anyone who experienced the earthquake to report their firsthand accounts to local authorities. This will help in assessing the full extent of the damage and providing necessary assistance to those in need.”
Earthquake details
Date & Time: August 5, 2023, 18:33:57 UTC (1 hour 13 minutes ago) Local Time at Epicenter: Sunday, August 6, 2023, at 2:33 am (GMT +8) Depth: 3.4 km Location: Dezhou Shi, Shandong, China (37.1933°N / 116.381°E) Shaking Intensity: Light shaking Reports of Felt Tremors: 72
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has confirmed a powerful magnitude 5.5 earthquake in China. The quake struck near Dezhou Shi, Shandong, causing light shaking in the region. As of now, 72 reports have been received regarding the felt tremors.
Nearby Towns and Cities:
- 29 km (18 mi) SSE of Dezhou (pop: 379,600)
- 71 km (44 mi) NE of Linqing (pop: 110,000)
- 77 km (48 mi) NNW of Changqing (pop: 82,600)
- 80 km (50 mi) NW of Jinan (pop: 4,336,000)
- 89 km (55 mi) NNE of Liaocheng (pop: 226,900)
- 130 km (81 mi) NNW of Tai’an (pop: 5,499,000)
- 302 km (188 mi) S of Beijing (pop: 11,716,600)
Weather at Epicenter at Time of Quake: Few Clouds, 23.2°C (74°F), humidity: 94%, wind: 4 m/s (9 kts) from NE
Seismic Energy Released: Approximately 1.1 x 1013 joules (3.12 gigawatt hours), equivalent to 2682 tons of TNT or 0.2 atomic bombs!
Stay tuned for further updates on the impact of this earthquake in China.”