A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the China-Kyrgyzstan border on Tuesday, January 23, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which warned of potentially widespread damage.
The earthquake occurred at 2:09 a.m. (1809 GMT), the China Earthquake Administration reported. It impacted Wushi County in the mountainous border region of Xinjiang in northwest China.
By 4 a.m. (2000 GMT), 14 aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 or higher occurred near the epicenter. The most significant aftershock measured 5.3 and was approximately 17 kilometers (8.6 miles) away from the initial quake, Xinhua News stated.
Aftershocks can occur days, weeks, or even years after the primary earthquake. These subsequent seismic events can be of similar or greater magnitude than the original earthquake, posing a continued risk to areas already damaged.
Shortly after, three additional earthquakes were registered in the vicinity, with magnitudes of 5.5, 5.1, and 5.0.
The USGS indicated possible casualties, but none were reported immediately in the mountainous and rural region where the earthquake occurred.
“Significant damage is likely, and the disaster is potentially widespread,” reports said.
This earthquake came a day after a landslide resulted in at least eight fatalities in southwestern China. In December, a quake in northwest China claimed 148 lives and displaced thousands in Gansu province. This was China’s deadliest earthquake since 2014 when over 600 people died in the southwestern Yunnan province.
During the December earthquake, the aid operation faced additional challenges due to subzero temperatures, forcing survivors to gather around outdoor fires for warmth. As seismologists analyze the data, the reported magnitude of the earthquake may be revised.
Further data about the earthquake could also lead scientists at the U.S.G.S. to revise the shake-severity map.
Also Read: UN reviews China’s human rights record
Leave a Reply