The 2019 Mw 5.8 Changning, China earthquake: A cascade rupture of fold-accommodation faults induced by fluid injection

Industrial production activities associated with salt mining, hydraulic fracturing, or geothermal exploitation can induce pore pressure and stress field changes, thus inducing seismic activity. Most of the events are not disastrous due to limited energy radiated. Here we report a Mw 5.8 damaging event that occurred in Changning, China on June 17, 2019, probably largest induced by industrial ever recorded. The earthquake is located within Changning anticline, it raises great concerns why how relatively quiescent area terms tectonic Moreover, has been debated whether this ruptured solely fold-accommodation faults also involved deep-rooted fault under anticline. By using InSAR data from two satellites, investigate detailed rupture slip pattern earthquake. We propose cascade mode faults, through poroelastic modeling excess fluid injection pumping operations static Coulomb calculation pre-stressed faults. argue water injections may have triggered event. result highlights importance reassessing hazard over similar environments intensive exploitation.