December 16, 2018 Earthquake: Yibin, Sichuan, China
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Yibin, Sichuan, China on December 16, 2018 at 04:46:09 UTC, 19 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 16, 2018
- Time
- 04:46:09 UTC
- Place
- Yibin, Sichuan, China
- Magnitude
- 5.3 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 19 km (12 mi)
- Intensity
- 3 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 28.295° N, 105.013° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Injuries
- 17
- Damage
- $7.3 million
- Houses destroyed
- 15
- Houses damaged
- 6,145
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.
Sixteen people injured, 223 houses damaged or destroyed and rockslides blocked roads in Xingwen. Chengdu, Sichuan, China - CDI: 3; Yongchang, Chongqing, China - CDI: 3; Huayang, Sichuan, China - CDI: 3; Chongqing, Chongqing, China - CDI: 2 (reference #1053)
However, 16 people have so far been reported injured in the earthquake. The houses of 6,145 villagers were damaged, with 252 seriously damaged and two decimated. (reference #12306)
At least 17 people sustained minor injuries after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit Xingwen County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sunday. A preliminary investigation shows that a total of 231 local residences have been severely damaged, while other 15 collapsed. Up to 1,000 cotton tents have been dispatched to the area in order to accommodate those affected by the quake amid the cold and rainy weather. (reference #12307)
As of 10:30 on the 17th, the Xingwen County "12.16" 5.7-magnitude earthquake has caused direct economic losses of 51.579 million yuan. (reference #12308)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 10, 1974, Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, Chao-T'Ung, China
- July 30, 1917, Yunnan Province, China
- December 18, 1935, Sichuan Province, China
- September 7, 2012, Yiliang, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China
- February 14, 1896, Fushun, Sichuan Province, China
- July 22, 2006, Yanjin, China
- June 17, 2019, Yibin, Sichuan, China
- 26 BC, Yibin, Sichuan, China
- November 8, 1905, Sichuan Province, China
- November 14, 2003, Ludian, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China
- August 10, 2004, Ludian, Yunnan Province, China
- September 15, 2021, Luxian (Lu), Sichuan Province, China
- October 8, 1948, Guizhou Province, China
- August 8, 2009, Rongchang, Chongqing Province, China
- February 25, 2019, Rongxian, Sichuan Province, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 2018The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2018Recent 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 10381.