Four people have died and at least 23 others were injuried in a moderate earthquake in the Chinese province Yunnan on monday. According to the Chinese Earthquake Information Center, the quake reached Magnitude 5.0 and occurred in a depth of only eight kilometers. The low depth lead to a high intensity: Several domestic buildings in the villages surrounding the epicenter suffered damage, some collapsed. Immediate reports after the quake indicated multiple people trapped under the debris. Later, officials confirmed the death of four people. It is yet unclear how many structured suffered damage. The assessment is still ongoing.

Due to the high population density, the poor buildings and the steep topography, Yunnan is highly prone to hazardous earthquakes. Even moderate ones have lead to severe damage and casualties multiple times in the last few years. Secondary hazards like landslides and rockfalls contribute to the risk: The current quake caused several rockfalls, one of them hit a motorbike and caused one casualty. 

Tectonically, Yunnan sits on the south-eastern edge of the Eurasian Plate, where is is split up into several microplates with a complex structure. Most quakes result from NW-SE striking strike-slip faults. 

Four people have died and at least 23 others were injuried in a moderate earthquake in the Chinese province Yunnan on monday. According to the Chinese Earthquake Information Center, the quake reached Magnitude 5.0 and occurred in a depth of only eight kilometers. The low depth lead to a high intensity: Several domestic buildings in the villages surrounding the epicenter suffered damage, some collapsed. Immediate reports after the quake indicated multiple people trapped under the debris. Later, officials confirmed the death of four people. It is yet unclear how many structured suffered damage. The assessment is still ongoing.

Due to the high population density, the poor buildings and the steep topography, Yunnan is highly prone to hazardous earthquakes. Even moderate ones have lead to severe damage and casualties multiple times in the last few years. Secondary hazards like landslides and rockfalls contribute to the risk: The current quake caused several rockfalls, one of them hit a motorbike and caused one casualty. 

Tectonically, Yunnan sits on the south-eastern edge of the Eurasian Plate, where is is split up into several microplates with a complex structure. Most quakes result from NW-SE striking strike-slip faults.