December 25, 2008 Earthquake: Simao, Yunnan Province, China
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Simao, Yunnan Province, China on December 25, 2008 at 20:20:51 UTC, 35 km below the surface.
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
- December 25, 2008
- Time
- 20:20:51 UTC
- Place
- Simao, Yunnan Province, China
- Magnitude
- 4.8 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 35 km (22 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 23.970° N, 97.569° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Injuries
- 19
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 30
- Houses damaged
- 5,400
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.
Nineteen people injured, 30 houses collapsed and more than
5,400 buildings damaged in Ruili, China. (reference #1053)
95019 affected. (reference #1250)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- March 13, 1577, Tengchong, Yunnan, China
- March 10, 2011, Pingyuan, Yunnan Province, China
- August 21, 2008, Yunnan Province, China
- May 1906, Yunnan Province, China
- December 25, 2008, Myanmar
- September 19, 1966, Yunnan Province, China
- February 1, 2011, Pingyuan, Yunnan Province, China
- May 23, 2014, Yunnan Province, China
- May 30, 2014, Yingjiang, Yunnan Province, China
- August 19, 2008, Yunnan Province, China
- May 29, 1976, Lungling-Lushi, Yunnan Province, China
- March 1, 2015, Cangyuan, Gengma, Yunnan Province, China
- September 12, 1946, Myanmar
- September 12, 1946, Myanmar
- June 4, 1929, Myitkyina, Myanmar
More
Significant earthquakes of 2008The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2008Recent 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 9834.