Earthquake in southern Chinese region of Guangxi: 13 buildings collapsed and thousands of people evacuated

©Emad El Byed via Unsplash

China's Guangxi region was hit by an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale. In the process, 13 buildings collapsed and at least two people have already been killed. A search is still underway under the rubble for one missing person. Four people were injured and taken to the hospital. They are not in mortal danger. This was reported by Chinese state broadcaster CGTN and the state news agency Xinhua.

More than 7,000 residents of the city of Liuzhou were evacuated. Consequently, the damage in the city is enormous. Rescue operations are still ongoing in Liuzhou. The fatalities are a couple found under the rubble. They are in their fifties and sixties.

The earthquake occurred on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 00:21 a.m. local time (Sunday, 10 p.m. Dutch time). The epicenter of the overnight earthquake was near Liuzhou at a relatively shallow depth. This made the shock very palpable. Tremors were also reported in Hong Kong and the quake was also felt in Vietnam, but there the impact seemed limited.

Authorities are warning of public transportation disruptions throughout the southwestern region of Guangxi. State media report that communication and power lines, water and gas supplies and traffic in the affected area were not damaged and are operating normally. National and regional emergency services in the affected area are still in large numbers. Debris clearance and the search for the missing are likely to take quite some time.

©Emad El Byed via Unsplash - Illustrative image of the severe effects caused by an earthquake