Shallow M6.1 earthquake hits Sichuan, China

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the China Earthquake Networks Center as M6.1 hit the province of Sichuan, China at 09:00 UTC (17:00 LT) on June 1, 2022. The agency is reporting a depth of 17 km (10 miles). USGS and EMSC are reporting it as M5.9 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).

The quake was followed by M4.5 aftershock at 09:03 UTC (17:03 LT).

The epicenter was located 45.2 km (28.1 miles) W of Linqiong (population 55 587) and 106.9 km (66.4 miles) WSW of Chengdu (population 7 415 590).

The USGS PAGER estimated 94 000 people have felt strong shaking and 1 762 000 moderate.

The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and a Yellow alert for economic losses.

There is a low likelihood of casualties. Some damage is possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of China. Past events with this alert level have required a local or regional level response.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and unreinforced brick with mud construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Update:

At least 4 people were killed and 14 others injured, of which at least one seriously, authorities and state media said. (Xinhua)

The deaths were caused by falling rocks; all of them in Baoxing County.

More than 4 500 people from emergency rescue, armed police, fire department, medical sector, and other departments were dispatched to the earthquake-hit areas to search for and rescue the injured, repair roads and relocate affected residents.

Regional seismicity

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google