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A Chinese boy went viral for refusing to take cover during a 4.3-magnitude earthquake in Qingyuan, prioritizing his meal.
A Chinese boy going back and forth from the earthquake shelter amid an earthquake in Guangdong province. (IMAGE: X)
A Chinese boy went viral after it appeared that he was refusing to take cover during an earthquake in Qingyuan on June 23. The clip has been shared widely on many social media platforms where the child is seen running back and forth to grab food from a table amid tremors.
The video begins with a family sitting together and eating at the dining table. The family enjoying their meal peacefully while have conversations are startled when an earthquake hit.
A 4.3-magnitude earthquake struck Qingyuan, Guangdong last night. Different reactions of a family of four captured by home security camera video has gone viral online today. Netizens commented: “The panicked dad, The obedient younger brother, the calm mom, and the hungry… pic.twitter.com/Ze4VAOpFIK— China in Pictures (@tongbingxue) June 24, 2025
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the father Li immediately got ahold of his younger son and rushed towards the door in a panic. His older son followed initially and also called out to someone in the kitchen to run.
Within a few moments, the boy ran back to the table and argued that he had not finished his meal. He was seen urging his mother to take shelter before running out of the cover himself.
He’s not going to die hungry—living life to fullest right up to the last minute!— Isaac Taylor (@joxxol) June 24, 2025
“The panicked dad, The obedient younger brother, the calm mom and the hungry older brother,” one netizen posted said.
“He’s not going to die hungry—living life to fullest right up to the last minute!” said another.
China is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, with frequent seismic activity due to its position along multiple active fault lines. The country lies at the meeting point of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, making regions such as Sichuan, Yunnan and Xinjiang particularly vulnerable.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
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