7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes China-Kyrgyzstan Border, Widespread Damage Feared
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the China-Kyrgyzstan border, leading to warnings of extensive damage. No casualties reported, but aftershocks continue to pose a threat.
A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck along the China-Kyrgyzstan border on Tuesday, triggering warnings of potentially widespread damage though no casualties were immediately reported. The quake was registered just after 2:00 am (1800 GMT Monday) at a depth of 13km in China's Xinjiang region, about 140 kilometres west of the city of Aksu. Two residential houses and livestock sheds collapsed in the area near the epicentre, in rural Wushi County, and electricity was temporarily knocked out. Local authorities dispatched a team to reach the quake's epicentre, the Xinhua state news agency said, while some 800 people were on stand-by ready for any large disaster relief mission.
A M7.0 earthquake struck the China-Kyrgyzstan border just after midnight, in bitter cold. With severe shaking, this event is likely serious.
— Dr. Judith Hubbard (@JudithGeology) January 23, 2024
The quake likely occurred on the South Tien Shan fault, which in the past has produced M8+ events.
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Aftershocks continue to rattle the region, with a slew of small earthquakes following the initial 7.0-magnitude quake. Extensive damage is probable, the United States Geological Survey report on the earthquake said. People in both China and Kyrgyzstan reported strong tremors, with residents fleeing their homes to seek refuge in the streets. Despite the frigid early morning temperatures hovering around -10 degrees Celsius, people rushed outside for safety amid the shaking. Reports from as far as New Delhi, about 1,400km away, indicated the effects of the earthquake, as local TV channels reported strong tremors in the city.
The head of the Kyrgyz Ministry for Emergency Situations, Bohobek Azhikeev, said in a video message that no casualties or damage have been registered in the city of Bishkek. However, five villages are located within 20km of the epicentre, according to Xinhua, and extensive damage is likely to have occurred in these areas. This devastating natural disaster has caused concern and a sense of urgency for large-scale disaster relief efforts in the affected region.
