6 injured, 47 houses collapsed after 7.1 earthquake hit northwestern China's Xinjiang region

January 23, 2024

- Tremors also felt across region and in neighboring countries of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan

By Anadolu staff

ANKARA (AA) - At least six people have been injured after homes collapsed due to a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck China's northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region early Tuesday, state-run media reported.

The quake's epicenter was at a depth of 22 kilometers (13 miles) in the mountainous border region of Wushi County.

Tremors were felt across the region and in the neighboring countries of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

So far, two people have been seriously injured and four others suffered minor injuries, all in a village in Xinjiang's Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture, Global Times reported.

While dozes houses damage in the region including 47 houses collapsed.

The region has so far recorded 14 aftershocks of magnitude 3 or higher, with the strongest registering at 5.3 magnitude, according Xinhua News.

Authorities also suspended rail services to check for damage along the tracks in the affected region. While the power supply had been disrupted temporarily in some parts of the region, it was gradually restored.

The quakes were felt across Xinjiang, including Urumqi, Hotan, and Kashgar.

Authorities dispatched a rescue team to Wushi county but no casualties have been reported from the affected areas so far, according to the report.

Last month, a strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit Gansu and Qinghai provinces in China, with its epicenter in Cishan Bao'an Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County, killed 149 people and damaging 14,000 houses.