Strong 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Xinjiang Region
On the early morning of January 23, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Ush County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. The epicenter was located at 41.26 degrees north latitude and 78.63 degrees east longitude, about 140 kilometers west of Aksu City. The earthquake had a depth of 22 kilometers. Shortly after the strong earthquake, several aftershocks occurred with magnitudes of 5.5, 5.1, and 5.0 respectively. According to Reuters, another magnitude 5.67 earthquake with a shallow depth of 10 kilometers hit the area on the morning of January 24.
Ush County is located in a mountainous area with an altitude of over 3000 meters. The night temperature is as low as -10 degrees Celsius. After the earthquake, people tightly packed their belongings and evacuated outdoors, afraid to return home. As of the evening of January 23, the disaster has caused 3 deaths and 5 injuries. The authorities have relocated more than 10,000 people in the affected area. All houses in the county have varying degrees of damage, with a total of 47 houses and 6 sheep pens collapsed and 78 houses damaged. Highways and national and provincial trunk roads have gradually resumed operation, and the railway has also resumed operation. Various post-disaster rescue work is still being intensified.
The nearby cities of Urumqi, Korla, Kashgar, and Yining felt strong earthquakes. The buildings in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, which is adjacent to the area, shook, and furniture was displaced. People fled their homes and took refuge on the streets.
This earthquake is the largest in China since the strong earthquake in Yunnan in 2014, which caused more than 600 deaths.
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