The earthquake occurred as a result of shallow (10 km depth) strike-slip faulting at the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. It ruptured a fault located near the Qilian Mountains. The geological structure responsible was the Lenglongling Fault, a segment of theHaiyuan Fault System. The rupture was mostly confined to 0–8 km within the upper crust. A maximum slip of 3.5 m was estimated at 4 km depth.[8]Surface ruptures were observed for a length of 22 km, and the maximum surface displacement was 2.1 m. The evaluated maximum Modified Mercalli intensity was IX (Violent) near the rupture zone. Intensity VI (Strong) was felt over an area of at least 23,417 km2.[1]
By January 17, 2022, at least 584 aftershocks were recorded, and the largest measured Mw 5.3. The aftershocks were distributed along a 40 km-long zone trending east–west. Many were detected at depths of 7–14 km, beneath the main rupture area. Only a few aftershocks were detected within 5 km of the crust.[8]
The earthquake damaged at least 137 homes and collapsed two walls inZhangye.[9] Four people inMenyuan Hui Autonomous County suffered minor injuries while evacuating.[4] In total, nine people were reported to be injured, eight of them were discharged from hospitals by the following day.[10] The economic loss amounted to be 3.25 billionyuan (US$510 million).[2]
Some bridges and tunnels on theLanzhou–Xinjiang high-speed railway sustained serious damage and traffic was halted until repairs could be completed.[11]TheGreat Wall of China was also damaged by the quake. A 2 m (6 ft 7 in) section of the wall inShandan County, built during theMing Dynasty, collapsed. As of January 2022, repair and restoration work on this section was underway.[12]
^ab"应急管理部发布2022年全国十大自然灾害".Ministry of Emergency Management (in Chinese). 12 January 2023.Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved12 January 2023.
^"青海门源6.9级地震烈度图发布 最高烈度为IX度(9度)" [Qinghai Menyuan M6.9 earthquake intensity map released, the highest intensity is IX degree (9 degree)].Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved3 June 2022.
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