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Harvey Kong

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The Hong Kong Observatory detected locally felt tremors from a 4.0-magnitude earthquake in Guangdong province on Friday afternoon, confirming more than 100 reports from residents.
The weather forecaster’s initial analysis indicated that the 4.0-magnitude earthquake occurred at 2.28pm in Guangdong’s Yangjiang, with the epicentre located about 260km (161.6 miles) west-southwest of Hong Kong.
The Observatory announced at 2.34pm that tremors had been detected by its seismic network.
“The epicentre is located near 21.75N, 111.77E, about 22km southwest of Yangjiang,” it said.
“The Observatory received over 100 locally felt reports of this earth tremor, the duration of which was a few seconds. Initial estimates gave a local intensity of [three] on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale, which is felt indoors. Vibrations like the passing of light trucks.”
Benjamin Horton, chair professor of earth science at the City University, said earthquakes of small to moderate magnitude were common in Guangdong and the South China region.
“Large, damaging earthquakes are rare, but smaller earthquakes do occur from time to time [In the region],” Horton said.
He noted that even low-to-moderate seismicity could still be felt by residents, particularly those staying in high‑rise buildings.
The Observatory recorded an average of 6.4 locally felt earthquakes per year from 2021 to 2025, a significant increase from the 2.4 per year between 2016 and 2020.
Horton said the increase did not indicate that the South China region had become more dangerous or that a major earthquake was imminent, stressing that no evidence suggested a significant change in the region’s underlying tectonic behaviour.
“From a scientific perspective, this trend is not considered worrying, but rather a reflection of better observation and reporting,” he said.


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Forecaster announced at 2.34pm that its seismic network picked up tremors after receiving over 100 reports from residents


Forecaster announced at 2.34pm that its seismic network picked up tremors after receiving over 100 reports from residents.


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Hong Kong Observatory detects tremors felt by residents

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Forecaster announced at 2.34pm that its seismic network picked up tremors after receiving over 100 reports from residents

Forecaster announced at 2.34pm that its seismic network picked up tremors after receiving over 100 reports from residents