On 15 January 2000, at 07:37 CST, a Ms6.5 or Mw5.9 earthquake struck Yao'an County in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, China, 85 km (53 mi) east of Dali City.

Lateral eastward spreading of this zone of thickened crust is impeded by the presence of the South China Block and this causes clockwise rotation of the Sichuan–Yunnan block, accommodated by left-lateral strike-slip faults on its eastern margin and right lateral strike-slip faults to the west.

[13] By 16 January, hundreds of tents were set up for displaced residents, with 2,000 more due to arrive by the next day.

[10] The Hong Kong Red Cross sent 10,000 coats, 10,000 cooking sets and 5,000 quilts and 150 packs of rice.

[13] The Salvation Army planned to deliver 2,000 sleeping bags, cotton quilts and over 1,000 coats to Yunnan.