On the evening of December 22nd at 8:31 p.m., a 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck Lingqiu County, Datong City, Shanxi Province. Following this, at 11:45 p.m. on the same night, another 4.2-magnitude earthquake hit Mengla County in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan.
A viral video online shows the intense shaking of the ground during the earthquake, leading many residents to run downstairs for shelter. The person who posted the video mentioned, “The building I live in shook for a moment, and everyone got scared and rushed downstairs.”
According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, the epicenter of the earthquake was located at 21.41 degrees north latitude and 101.73 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10 kilometers. Villages within a 5-kilometer radius of the epicenter include Guangzhuangmo, Nanmuwan, Dongyang, and Nanxi, while towns within a 20-kilometer radius include Shangyong and Mengla.
The epicenter is 18 kilometers from Mengla County, 117 kilometers from Jinghong City, 132 kilometers from Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County, 146 kilometers from Menghai County, 172 kilometers from Simao District, 117 kilometers from Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and 417 kilometers from Kunming City.
According to reports from “Haike News,” earthquake tremors have been noticeable in many areas of Yunnan. Internet users from Laos have indicated that tremors were felt in parts of Laos as well.
Various other netizens have also shared their experiences, with comments like, “It scared me to death, such a loud noise.” “It was so obvious on my iron bed frame, I immediately got up from bed and rushed outside.” “I was about to run, living on the 5th floor with the swaying back and forth.” “Jinghong City also shook a bit; hopefully it won’t shake again. I really want to sleep but afraid to do so now.”
According to the China Earthquake Networks Center’s rapid report catalog, within a 200-kilometer radius of the epicenter, there have been a total of 31 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or higher in the past five years. The largest earthquake was a 6.0-magnitude quake that occurred in Laos on December 24, 2021, 103 kilometers away from the current epicenter.
Just a few hours earlier, a 4.2-magnitude earthquake had also occurred in Lingqiu County, Datong City, Shanxi Province. Residents in Beijing and Tianjin reported feeling the tremors distinctly, with some netizens describing the shaking of buildings, trembling furniture, and even being awakened by the quake.