Saturday, March 29, 2025
Tremors of a moderate earthquake were felt in China on the morning of Friday, May 16, 2025. The quake, which struck near a populated area, registered a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). So far, no casualties or property damage have been reported.
This seismic event follows a series of earthquakes in other parts of the world, including Turkey, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Greece.
Earlier on Thursday, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook central Turkey around 2 PM local time. The tremors were strong enough to be felt in the capital, Ankara. Notably, the quake occurred while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) confirmed the quake and stated that its epicenter was in the Kulu district of Konya Province. Fortunately, there were no reports of deaths, injuries, or structural damage.
Afghanistan experienced light tremors shortly after midnight, around 12:47 AM. These were weaker than the tremors recorded in Turkey but added to the growing list of regional seismic events.
Myanmar also experienced minor earthquake activity during the day. The magnitudes of both events ranged between 3.0 to 5.0, according to international monitoring agencies.
A day earlier, on Wednesday morning, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Greek island of Karpathos, located in the southeastern Aegean Sea. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at a depth of 78 kilometers and hit around 1:51 AM local time.
Tremors from this quake were felt as far away as Cairo (Egypt), Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. The epicenter was located in the sea, prompting a tsunami warning, which was later lifted after a few hours.
These recent earthquakes revive memories of the devastating February 2023 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. That disaster involved two powerful quakes—measuring 7.8 and 7.5—which caused the collapse of thousands of buildings.
The tragedy claimed more than 59,000 lives in Turkey and another 8,000 in Syria, making it one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history.
Despite today’s tremors in China, authorities have confirmed that no fatalities or property damage occurred. The National Center for Seismology continues to monitor the situation. Residents are advised to stay alert but calm.
As global seismic activity appears to rise, experts urge governments and citizens to ensure preparedness for natural disasters.
