October 16, 2003 Earthquake: Dayao, Yunnan Province, China
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Dayao, Yunnan Province, China on October 16, 2003 at 12:28:09 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 3 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- October 16, 2003
- Time
- 12:28:09 UTC
- Place
- Dayao, Yunnan Province, China
- Magnitude
- 5.6 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 25.954° N, 101.254° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 32
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 12,000
- Houses damaged
- 12,000
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
At least three people killed, 32 injured and 12,000 buildings damaged or destroyed in the Dayao area. Also felt in Yaoan,
Yongren and Yuanmou. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 6, 1833, Yunnan Province, China
- March 16, 1925, Talifu, Yunnan Province, China
- July 13, 1652, Midu, Yunnan Province, China
- September 9, 1680, Yunnan Province, China
- May 25, 1751, Yunnan Province, China
- February 3, 1996, Lijiang, Yunnan Province, China
- January 27, 1755, Yunnan Province, China
- October 23, 1515, Dali, Yunnan Province, China
- June 14, 1688, Yunnan Province, China
- February 23, 1839, Yunnan Province, China
- June 27, 1948, Yunnan Province, China
- June 17, 1515, Heqing, Yunnan Province, China
- February 7, 1839, Yunnan Province, China
- October 23, 1995, Wuding, Yunnan Province, China
- August 7, 1878, Yunnan Province, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 2003The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2003Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5731.