Significant earthquakes of 2004

August 10, 2004 Earthquake: Ludian, Yunnan Province, China

August 10, 2004 · M5.4 · 4 deaths · $50 million · 18,556 houses destroyed

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Ludian, Yunnan Province, China on August 10, 2004 at 10:26:14 UTC, 6 km below the surface. It killed 4 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
August 10, 2004
Time
10:26:14 UTC
Place
Ludian, Yunnan Province, China
Magnitude
5.4 (Mw)
Focal depth
6 km (4 mi)
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
27.266° N, 103.873° E
Country
China

The toll

Deaths
4
Injuries
600
Damage
$50 million
Houses destroyed
18,556
Houses damaged
65,601

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 4 people killed, nearly 200 seriously injured,

400 slightly injured, more than 120,000 homeless,

18,556 houses destroyed and 65,601 damaged in Ludian

County, Yunnan. Twenty-two reservoirs damaged in

Yunnan Province. (reference #1053)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 2004The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2004Recent 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 5796.