Southern China Earthquake Kills Two, Forces Over 7,000 Residents To Evacuate In Guangxi

KUALA LUMPUR, May,2026 — A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck southern China’s Guangxi region early Monday, killing two people, injuring several others and forcing more than 7,000 residents to evacuate from Liuzhou city.

The earthquake caused significant damage in parts of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with state media reporting that at least 13 buildings collapsed following the tremor. Rescue teams were deployed to affected areas as authorities assessed damage to homes, roads and public infrastructure.

According to Reuters, the quake struck early Monday and triggered urgent evacuation measures in Liuzhou, where thousands of residents were moved to safer areas as a precaution. Authorities also warned of possible transport disruptions while railway officials inspected rail infrastructure for damage.

Initial reports said two people were confirmed dead, while four others were sent to hospital. The injured were not reported to have life-threatening wounds, according to information from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV and Xinhua cited by Reuters.

Search and rescue operations continued through the morning as emergency workers looked for trapped or missing residents. The Associated Press reported that the search was completed around midday after the last trapped person, a 91-year-old man, was found alive and in good condition.

Images aired by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed excavators clearing debris and rescue workers moving through collapsed structures. Landslides triggered by the quake also blocked roads leading to some affected areas, complicating access for emergency teams.

The quake also disrupted train services around Liuzhou, with some services cancelled or delayed as authorities inspected railway lines for safety. Reuters reported that communication networks, power lines, water supply, gas supply and traffic in the affected area were operating normally, based on state media updates.

The earthquake has raised fresh concern over disaster preparedness in southern China, where earthquakes occur occasionally but are generally less severe than those in western China or near Taiwan. AP noted that China’s most devastating recent earthquake was the 7.9-magnitude Sichuan earthquake in 2008, which left more than 87,000 people dead or missing.

For local authorities, the immediate priority remains ensuring that evacuated residents have safe temporary shelter while damaged structures are inspected. Officials are also expected to monitor aftershock risks, road safety and the condition of public facilities in affected areas.

The Guangxi earthquake adds to a series of natural disaster concerns across Asia, where extreme weather, flooding, landslides and seismic activity continue to test emergency response systems. While the magnitude of the quake was moderate, the collapse of buildings and the large-scale evacuation show how vulnerable older or weaker structures can be during seismic events.

As of the latest reports, rescue operations have shifted from urgent search efforts to damage assessment, public safety checks and recovery support. Authorities are expected to continue inspecting homes, transport routes and key infrastructure before allowing displaced residents to return.

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck southern China’s Guangxi region, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate. The quake caused buildings to collapse, triggered landslides and disrupted train services as emergency teams carried out rescue and safety operations.