Earthquake Today: 4.2 Magnitude Quake Jolts China, Shallow Depth Raises Aftershock Risk

A 4.2 magnitude earthquake struck parts of China in the early hours of Wednesday, June 4, 2025, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremors were recorded at a shallow depth of 10 km, increasing the potential for aftershocks and surface-level damage.

Location Details (as per NCS):

Magnitude: 4.2

Date & Time: June 4, 2025 | 04:43:08 IST

Coordinates: Latitude 33.73° N, Longitude 81.99° E

Depth: 10 km

Region: China

Why Shallow Earthquakes Are More Dangerous

Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more intense ground shaking since the energy is released closer to the Earth's surface. These types of quakes, especially in regions with poor infrastructure and building codes, can lead to higher damage and casualty rates compared to deeper seismic events.

Seismic Vulnerability in Western China

Western China — especially provinces like Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai — lies on the active boundary formed by the ongoing India-Asia continental collision, making it a high-risk seismic zone. Although these areas have relatively lower population density, limited infrastructure and poor transport networks amplify the vulnerability during quakes.

China's History with Deadly Earthquakes

China has experienced some of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history:

1303 Hongdong Earthquake: Over 2,00,000 deaths

1556 Shaanxi Earthquake: Estimated 830,000 deaths

1920 Haiyuan Earthquake: Over 2,73,000 deaths

1950 Assam-Tibet Earthquake: Magnitude 8.6

2008 Sichuan Earthquake: 87,587 fatalities

The Rise and Fall of Earthquake Prediction in China

Earthquake prediction gained traction during the 1966–1976 Cultural Revolution, peaking with the successful forecast of the 1975 Haicheng earthquake. However, the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which struck without warning and killed over 2,40,000 people, discredited the practice. Since then, China has shifted its focus to disaster preparedness and early warning systems rather than prediction.