Earthquake of Magnitude 7.2 Strikes China’s Xinjiang, Sends Tremors Across Borders

On the night of January 22, 2024, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale struck Southern Xinjiang, China, sending strong tremors that were felt as far as the Delhi-NCR region. The National Center for Seismology reported the earthquake at 23:39:11 IST, with its epicenter located at Lat: 40.96 & Long: 78.30, and a depth of 80 km.

In the aftermath, several injuries were reported, and some houses collapsed along the Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border. The Xinjiang railway department promptly halted operations, with 27 trains affected by the seismic activity. Chinese media reported 14 aftershocks, with the largest measuring 5.3 in magnitude, occurring near the epicenter in Wushi County.

Emergency response services were activated by Chinese authorities, coordinating relief efforts that included the provision of cotton tents, coats, quilts, mattresses, folding beds, and heating stoves. The relief measures aimed to support those affected by the earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks.

In Kazakhstan, the emergencies ministry reported the earthquake at a magnitude of 6.7. Residents in Almaty, the country’s largest city, evacuated their houses, facing cold weather in pajamas and slippers. Aftershocks were also felt in Uzbekistan, though no injuries or damages have been reported in either country.

The international community is closely monitoring the situation, and our thoughts are with those affected by this natural disaster. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.