In a late-night tremor, a moderately strong earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck northwestern China, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The seismic event took place on Monday at 11:59 p.m. China time, according to data from the agency.

Seismologists are currently reviewing the available data and may revise the reported magnitude of the earthquake. Furthermore, additional information gathered about the incident could prompt USGS scientists to update the shake-severity map to reflect the latest findings.

Following a larger earthquake in the same general area, aftershocks are typically minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped during the initial earthquake. These aftershocks can occur within days, weeks, or even years after the initial event, and they have the potential to be of equal or larger magnitude than the first earthquake. Additionally, they can continue to impact areas already affected by the initial quake.

The USGS provides a comprehensive analysis of seismic activity, categorizing shaking levels based on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. When aftershock data becomes available, the agency includes earthquakes within 100 miles and seven days of the initial quake in the corresponding maps and charts.

As of Monday, December 18, at 12:15 p.m. Eastern Time, the shaking data is current. However, aftershocks data, as per the USGS, is as of Monday, December 18, at 3:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Residents in the affected regions are advised to stay vigilant and follow any safety guidelines provided by local authorities.