A magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Gao County, Yibin, Sichuan sparks public doubts over shale gas hydraulic fracturing triggering geological disasters

In the early hours of June 29, 2026, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Gao County, Yibin, Sichuan. Because the epicenter lies in the southern Sichuan shale gas development demonstration zone, local residents and netizens strongly questioned whether hydraulic fracturing drilling operations had triggered the earthquake, and called for a special investigation and the organization of rights defense efforts.