Thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes.

08:57, Mon, May 18, 2026 Updated: 09:16, Mon, May 18, 2026

China Guangxi Liuzhou Earthquake Rescue - 18 May 2026

The huge earthquake toppled buildings, reducing them to rubble (Image: Xinhua/Shutterstock)

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck south China’s Guangxi region early Monday, killing two people, toppling buildings and triggering the evacuations of thousands, state media reported. Four others sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital, while more than 7,000 residents were evacuated from Liuzhou city.

The search for several missing residents wrapped up around midday Monday, after the last trapped person, a 91-year-old man, was found alive in good condition, authorities said. Search and rescue operations involved over 300 personnel and 51 vehicles to locate him and assess damage.

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3 Missing After 5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Hits South China's Guangxi

Thousands of residents were evacuated. (Image: Getty)

Images aired by state broadcaster CCTV showed excavators clearing debris. At least 13 buildings collapsed, while landslides triggered by the quake blocked roads to the area, according to CCTV.

Train services around Liuzhou were subsequently cancelled or delayed. However, communication, power, water, and gas supplies remained operational.

Earthquakes occasionally strike south China, with more intense ones usually occurring toward the mountainous west or the east, toward Taiwan.

The most devastating recent earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 occurred in the southwestern Sichuan province in 2008, leaving more than 87,000 dead or missing.

China has also suffered heavy flooding. On May 18, heavy rain hit towns and villages, including Hupingshan in Shimen County, Hunan Province, causing shops to flood as the water almost submerged cars.

A local shop owner told Beijing News that she was unable to go to work to check the situation because the river had overflowed the bridge.

On the morning of the 18th, Shimen issued a red alert for heavy rain, with rainfall in towns such as Hupingshan and Suojie reaching 165mm.

Shimen County Emergency Management Bureau said there are currently no reports of casualties, and property damage is still being assessed.