Aim There have been few recent studies that have systematically investigated the risk factors for psychological illnesses caused by earthquakes in the empty nest elderly. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for depression in this special group in the hardest hit areas of the 2008 Sichuan Longmenshan fault Earthquake. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 10 severely damaged counties from Oct 2015 to Jan 2016 on 1,783 empty nesters, all of whom completed the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Social Support Rating Scale. Socio‐demographic information was also collected in a cross‐sectional survey. Results It was found that 83.1 % of empty nesters had depression overall, with 94.5 % in females, 95.8 % in the single elderly (widowed or divorced) and 97.7 % in those who had suffered bereavement because of the earthquake. The logistic regression analysis showed that being female, of single status, having poor subjective support, poor support availability and suffering from bereavement were the main risk factors for depression. Conclusions Of the earthquake affected empty nest elderly, depression was highest in females and the bereaved. Further poor subjective support was found to be strong indicator of depression in this special group. To minimize depression in the vulnerable elderly, measures should be taken to assist empty nesters in the earthquake‐stricken areas make full use of social support. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; ••: ••–••.