A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Wushi County in Aksu Prefecture, located in the mountainous border area between the Chinese mainland and Kyrgyzstan, at 2:09 a.m. Beijing Time on Tuesday, January 23, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The earthquake's epicenter, situated at 41.26°N latitude and 78.63°E longitude with a depth of 22 km, triggered a series of aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.3 in magnitude.
Preliminary reports from the Xinjiang Earthquake Agency indicate that the epicenter lies approximately 50 km from the county seat of Wushi, with five villages within a 20-kilometer radius affected by the quake.
As of 3 a.m. on Tuesday, two residential houses and livestock sheds collapsed in the epicenter area. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far. The earthquake caused temporary disruptions to the electricity supply in some areas, but power has been steadily restored.
The tremors were felt across various cities and prefectures in Xinjiang, including Urumqi, Hotan, and Kashgar. Residents in Urumqi, the regional capital, felt the shaking even on the 17th floor of buildings.
In response to the disaster, the Wushi County fire and rescue brigade dispatched an advance team of 10 people to the epicenter. Additionally, the Aksu Prefecture fire and rescue detachment mobilized 60 personnel to assist in the relief efforts.
A total of 182 vehicles, 800 people, and 32 dogs have been put on standby, ready to support the disaster relief mission, according to the Xinjiang Regional Fire and Rescue Department.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
