Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Hits Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang Border, Triggering Injuries and Infrastructure Damage
In a seismic event that rattled the Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border region, a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck on Tuesday, resulting in numerous injuries and the collapse of houses, as reported by Chinese state media.
The quake’s epicenter was pinpointed at 2:09 a.m. (1809 GMT) with a depth of 22 km (13 miles) in the mountainous border area of Wushi County in northwest China’s Xinjiang region, according to the China Earthquake Administration. The Xinjiang Earthquake Agency revealed that the epicenter is approximately 50 km (31 miles) from Wushi, with five villages situated within a 20-km (12 miles) radius.
As of 8 a.m. (0000 GMT), the China Earthquake Networks Center recorded 40 aftershocks, further intensifying the impact of the initial seismic activity. Reports from netizens on China’s Weibo social media platform indicated strong tremors felt in Urumqi, Korla, Kashgar, Yining, and surrounding areas.
The Xinjiang railway department took swift action, halting operations immediately, affecting 27 trains, according to Xinhua News. The earthquake prompted the activation of emergency response services by China’s Earthquake Administration, collaborating with the Office of the Earthquake Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management. A response team was dispatched to guide local rescue efforts.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management coordinated relief efforts, providing essential supplies such as cotton tents, coats, quilts, mattresses, folding beds, and heating stoves, reported Xinhua.
Over the past 24 hours, Xinjiang experienced several significant earthquakes. Meanwhile, in neighboring Kazakhstan, the emergencies ministry reported a magnitude 6.7 earthquake. In the country’s largest city, Almaty, residents evacuated their homes and gathered outside, though no damages were reported. The tremors, along with aftershocks, were also felt in Uzbekistan, adding to the regional impact of the seismic activity.
The earthquake with 7.0 magnitude occurred in Kirgizistan.Get well soon brothers.#Earthquake #Kırgızistan
— Nasir (@Nasir6906) January 23, 2024