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Information message about strong earthquake in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, on May 17 and 18, 2026

An earthquake (strong at the epicenter on the SIS-17 scale) with M=5.2 occurred on May 17, 2026 at 16:21 GMT (19:21 Moscow time) in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. A second shock (strong at the epicenter on the SIS-17 scale) with M=5.6 occurred 21 hours and 23 minutes later, it was recorded on May 18 at 13:44 GMT (16:44 Moscow time). <br /> SIS-17 - Earthquakes. Seismic intensity scale. State Standard 57546–2017.

Parameters of the earthquake have been determined in the Alert Service (AS) of Information Processing Center (IPC) of Geophysical Survey of RAS in Obninsk with station data obtained from digital and analog seismic stations of Russia, countries of CIS and from abroad. Alert message on the first earthquake has been delivered in 10 min after registration to the Ministry of Emergency of the Russian Federation (EMERCOM). Alert message on the second earthquake has been delivered in 11 min.

Preliminary processing for the first earthquake has been done with data from 15 stations, accurate processing - with data from 40. Preliminary processing for the second earthquake has been done with data from 15 stations, accurate processing - with data from 40.

The red marker on the map is the earthquake's epicenter, which originated in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southeastern China, at a depth of 10 km, 22 km N-NW of Liuzhou, 131 km SW of Guilin, and 148 km E of Hechi. The epicenter of the second aftershock was located 8 km N-NE of the first at a depth of 10 km.

	Time in origin (GMT)	Latitude, degree	Longitude, degree	Depth, km	Stations number	Ms/N	mb/N	I0 (calculated)	GAP	Center
1	13:44:26.2	24.48	109.21	10.0	110	Mww 5.1/32	5.6/211		20	NEIC(2) National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
2	16:21:07.0	24.5	109.29	10.0	40		5.2/32	5.5-6	183	GS RAS(Verified [1]) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
3	16:21:05.9	24.52	109.29	10.0	15		5.3/15	6-6.5		GS RAS(Preliminary [1]) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
4	16:21:05.1	24.45	109.26	0.0	218	Mw 5.1	5.3/112		21	CSEM(1) European - Mediterranean seismological center
5	16:21:06.4	24.46	109.2	10.0	53	Mww 5.0/16	5.1/80		54	NEIC(1) National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
6	13:44:27.0	24.56	109.33	10.0	49		5.6/46	6.5-7	80	GS RAS(Verified [2]) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
7	13:44:27.0	24.72	109.29	10.0	21		5.6/21	6.5-7		GS RAS(Preliminary [2]) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
8	13:44:26.7	24.54	109.23	10.0	441	Mw 5.1	5.6/208		20	CSEM(2) European - Mediterranean seismological center

Fig. 1 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Chiang Mai (∆ 11.2º), Ulaanbaatar (∆ 23.4º), Zakamensk (∆ 26.3º), Ussuriysk (∆ 27º), Orlik (∆ 28.9º) for the first earthquake. Fig. 2 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Chiang Mai (∆ 11.2º), Ulaanbaatar (∆ 23.3º), Zakamensk (∆ 26.2º), Ussuriysk (∆ 26.9º), Orlik (∆ 28.9º) for the second earthquake.

Image 1

Image 2

According to TASS the first earthquake killed two people. At least 13 residential buildings collapsed (Fig. 1). More than 7,000 people were evacuated after the earthquake. Four persons were hospitalized.
Figure 2 was obtained from USGS NEIC, it presents USGS Community Internet Intensity Map made by 12 responses after the first shock.
Figure 3 was obtained from USGS NEIC, it presents USGS Community Internet Intensity Map made by 10 responses after the second shock.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Click here to view detailed macroseismic data (DyfitWeb service)

Focal mechanism solution of the origin was calculated at the GS RAS with signs of initial arrivals of P waves at 50 stations, including 35 stations which registered compression waves (plus signs), and 15 stations which registered tensile waves (minus signs). The stations are located in the interval of epicentral distances 5-65º and in azimuth sector Az=2-359º. Focal mechanism solution in stereographic projection on the lower hemisphere and elements of the mechanism are presented in the table. The table also contains focal mechanism solutions obtained at the USGS NEIC with WW-phase Moment Tensor (Mww) technique and in German Research Centre for Geosciences GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ). Solutions from different centers are close. The earthquake occurred under prevailing action of compression stresses oriented S-SE (AZ=149-153º) according to GS RAS and GFZ and SE (AZ=142º) according to USGS NEIC. One nodal plane NP1 strikes W-SW (STK=243-248º) according to GS RAS and USGS NEIC and SW (AZ=234º) according to GFZ, another plane NP2 strikes E-NE (AZ=58-63º) according to GS RAS and GFZ and NE (STK=45º) according to USGS NEIC. According to GS RAS the planes are dipping at the same angle (DP=45º). According to USGS NEIC and GFZ one plane NP1 is more horizontal (DP=22-34º) if compared with another NP2 (DP=57-69º). The type of motion along both planes – reverse fault according to GS RAS and USGS NEIC, while according to GFZ the type of motion along NP1 – thrust and along NP2 – reverse fault. Seismic moment according to USGS NEIC makes Mo=4.268*10**16 N*m, Mww=5.0. According to GFZ it makes Mo=5.995*10**16 N*m, Mw=5.1.
Focal mechanism solution of the second earthquake was calculated at the GS RAS with signs of initial arrivals of P waves at 77 stations, including 63 stations which registered compression waves (plus signs), and 14 stations which registered tensile waves (minus signs). The stations are located in the interval of epicentral distances 5-96º and in azimuth sector Az=5-359º. Focal mechanism solution in stereographic projection on the lower hemisphere and elements of the mechanism are presented in the table. The table also contains focal mechanism solutions obtained at the USGS NEIC with WW-phase Moment Tensor (Mww) technique and in German Research Centre for Geosciences GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ). Solutions from different centers are close. The earthquake occurred under prevailing action of compression stresses oriented S-SE (AZ=148º). One nodal plane NP1 strikes SW (AZ=234-236º), another plane NP2 strikes E-NE (STK=59-62º). NP1 is more horizontal (DP=21-38º) if compared with NP2 (DP=52-69º). The type of motion along both planes - reverse fault according to GS RAS and USGS NEIC, along NP1 – thrust, along NP2 – reverse fault according to GFZ. Seismic moment according to USGS NEIC makes Mo=5.482*10**16 N*m, Mww=5.1. In GFZ solution it makes Mo=8.250*10**16 N*m, Mw=5.2.

Axes of main strengths			Nodal planes		Center
T	P	N	NP1	NP2	Center
PI: 85 Azm: 245	PI: 0 Azm: 153	PI: 5 Azm: 63	Stk: 248 Dp: 45 Slip: 97	Stk: 58 Dp: 45 Slip: 83	GS RAS (1) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences (1)
PI: 76 Azm: 286	PI: 12 Azm: 142	PI: 8 Azm: 51	Stk: 243 Dp: 34 Slip: 105	Stk: 45 Dp: 57 Slip: 80	NEIC (1) National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
PI: 66 Azm: 339	PI: 23 Azm: 149	PI: 3 Azm: 241	Stk: 234 Dp: 22 Slip: 81	Stk: 63 Dp: 69 Slip: 93	GFZ (1) German Research Center for Geosciences
PI: 74 Azm: 356	PI: 13 Azm: 139	PI: 9 Azm: 231	Stk: 217 Dp: 33 Slip: 73	Stk: 57 Dp: 59 Slip: 101	GS RAS (2) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences (2)
PI: 82 Azm: 359	PI: 7 Azm: 148	PI: 4 Azm: 239	Stk: 234 Dp: 38 Slip: 83	Stk: 62 Dp: 52 Slip: 95	NEIC (2) National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
PI: 66 Azm: 330	PI: 24 Azm: 148	PI: 1 Azm: 238	Stk: 236 Dp: 21 Slip: 88	Stk: 59 Dp: 69 Slip: 91	GFZ (2) German Research Center for Geosciences