6.3-magnitude earthquake strikes northwest China, strong aftershocks follow

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Haixi Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Tuesday evening, prompting authorities to assess the impact in the sparsely populated high-altitude region. According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the quake occurred at 5:06 pm local time (Beijing Time). The epicenter was located at 37.80 degrees north latitude and 95.56 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10 kilometres. "EQ of M: 6.3, On: 16/06/2026 14:36:56 IST, Lat: 37.833 N, Long: 95.286 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: China," posted National Center for Seismology (NCS) on X. No immediate reports of casualtiesThere were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, as per Reuters. Local authorities have launched assessments to determine the extent of any impact on nearby communities and infrastructure. China's western provinces, including Qinghai, Sichuan and Tibet, are prone to earthquakes due to their location along active tectonic fault lines where the Indian and Eurasian plates collide. The ongoing geological activity has resulted in several major earthquakes in the region over the years.\ Also read: Earthquake of magnitude 6.7 hits Indonesia's Sulawesi islandSeveral aftershocks recordedSeismologists detected multiple aftershocks following the main tremor, including one measuring around magnitude 5. Authorities are continuing to monitor seismic activity in the region. Emergency response teams remain on alert as officials continue to evaluate the situation and monitor for further aftershocks. [Image text:] Great Gobi Strictly Protected Area CENC A-AUC Enkh 4200-00N 400000N 19 3800-00N 360000N China Felt Responses 2026-06-1614:36:56IST) Lat37.833Long95.286 6.3 More info Depth:10km Location1077km N of PanginArunachal Pradesh India S314 Status:Reviewed 9200.00E 940000E960000E 980000E