On March 26, 2025, a 4.5 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Beijing at 1:21 a.m. alarming residents. This earthquake sent many students rushing from their dorms and recording from their living rooms. These videos went viral on Chinese social media. According to the China Earthquake Network Center, the quake was at a magnitude of 4.2 and a depth of 20 kilometers (12.4 miles).
For many residents, the tremors were strong enough to wake them up during the night. After many people posted their experiences with the quake online, it became the top trending topic on Chinese social media platforms. The videos display swaying ceiling lights and entire rooms quivering; however, some locals didn’t feel the tremors from the earthquake. A Beijing local reported to CNN, “I made a quick judgment and decided not to run – because I didn’t feel any tremors, and my phone showed that both the magnitude of the epicenter and the level expected to reach Beijing were low.”
When Ramapo Freshman Sadie Massaro was asked about any experiences she had with earthquakes, she said, “I have experienced an earthquake and it was last April. I was in school when it happened and I believe that it was a 4.8 magnitude earthquake. Everyone in my math class turned and looked at each other then we felt the entire building shake and heard loud rumbling.”
Due to earthquakes nearby, Beijing has been affected, having a population of about 22 million people. Beijing is home to more than a dozen seismic fault lines, and it includes one that runs from the city’s Shunyi district. “It did not cause any structural damage to buildings in the city and will not impact the normal functioning of daily life or production,” the Earthquake Agency said in a statement (cnn.com).
China earthquake survey doubles Beijing’s high-risk fault lines (scmp.com).
In response to the earthquake, the affected areas’ local governments are supported by working teams from three local earthquake bureaus in emergency response efforts. To manage the situation, the “CEA immediately heard briefings from the bureaus in Hebei, Beijing and Tianjin, and urged strengthened monitoring, continuous assessment of the situation, and timely updates” (english.news.cn).
The affected areas after an earthquake can also be restored quickly with the help of volunteers. It’s critical for people to help out and assist cleaning up after an earthquake because it can bring a community together. When Ramapo Freshman Gavin Fromberg was asked if he would help volunteer cleaning up after an earthquake, he stated, “Yes, I believe that we need to support those who are affected.”
Although the earthquake has damaged the city of Beijing, ultimately the international community came together to support victims and help clean up the rubble that was left.
