A magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday was felt in Hong Kong, with residents reporting brief tremors across the city.
The Hong Kong Observatory confirmed that it received more than 10 reports from people who felt the shaking. The tremor lasted only a few seconds but was noticeable in parts of the territory.
The earthquake’s epicentre was located about 550 kilometres west-northwest of Hong Kong. Officials said the quake occurred at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres, which can often make shaking more noticeable even at long distances.
The Observatory said the tremor was linked to seismic activity in Guangxi, a region in southern China that occasionally experiences moderate earthquakes.
Residents in Hong Kong reported light shaking in buildings, though there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The event briefly raised attention among the public, especially in higher floors of residential and office buildings where tremors are often more noticeable.
Seismologists note that earthquakes of this magnitude are generally considered moderate. While they can cause local disruption near the epicentre, they are less likely to cause serious damage at distant locations like Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Observatory continues to monitor regional seismic activity and provides real-time updates when earthquakes occur in nearby areas. It also collects public reports to assess how widely tremors are felt across the city.
In this case, officials confirmed that the shaking was short-lived and did not require emergency measures. Normal operations across the city were not disrupted.
Guangxi, where the earthquake originated, sits within a seismically active zone in southern China. Earthquakes in the region are not uncommon, although most are of low to moderate intensity.
Experts say that even moderate earthquakes can be felt across long distances depending on geological conditions, depth, and local infrastructure.
The Hong Kong Observatory encourages residents to report felt tremors, as these reports help improve understanding of how seismic waves travel across the region.
Monday’s event serves as a reminder of the region’s exposure to natural seismic activity, even though Hong Kong itself is not located on a major fault line.
Authorities say there is no indication of aftershocks affecting Hong Kong at this time, but monitoring will continue in coordination with regional seismic networks.
