A violent earthquake shock the magnitude 7.1 hit the China on the night of Monday 22 to Tuesday 23 January 2024. A month after the earthquake that claimed over 100 lives, the earth began to tremble again in the northwest region Xinjiang.
7.1 magnitude earthquake in China
The earthquake was recorded in northwest China, near the border with Kyrgyzstan. According to the China Center for Seismological Networks, the earthquake was recorded at 2.09 a.m. local time, with the epicenter at a depth of 22 kilometers.
What is of interest, as already mentioned, is the region Xinjiang, but mainly Wushi County in Aksu Prefecture. The quake was felt in several cities in Xinjiang, such as Kashgar, Hotal and the capital Urumqi, where the top floors of buildings also shook.
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Shortly afterwards there were several aftershocks, the strongest with a magnitude of 5.3.
Injured people and houses collapsed after the earthquake
According to initial information, the earthquake did not cause any deaths as it occurred in a mountainous and sparsely populated area, but Various injuries and property damage would occur.
A first balance sheet reports 6 injured and over 47 houses destroyed due to the violence of the earthquake. The power supply is partially interrupted and infrastructure checks are underway to check the usability of roads and railways.
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The work of the rescuers
Unlike what happened in the Gansu earthquake last month, which claimed hundreds of victims, the hope is to avoid having to count the dead. But the relief machinery immediately got to work reaching the Xinjiang region and providing aid to those in need.
Local and regional authorities have sent Rescue and emergency teams 800 people, 182 vehicles and 32 search dogs were mobilized in the epicenter area.
Photo source: ANSA