In the early hours of Tuesday, a seismic event with a magnitude of 7.1 occurred in the sparsely populated Uchturpan county of China’s western Xinjiang region, resulting in three fatalities and significant damage amid freezing temperatures.
This event is part of a series of earthquakes and natural disasters affecting the western part of the country.
The incident prompted an immediate response from rescue teams, with approximately 1,000 personnel deployed by midday.
As of the latest update, three individuals have lost their lives, and five others sustained injuries in Uchturpan county (Wushi in Mandarin).
Rescue operations are underway in the chilly conditions of Wushi county, where temperatures are anticipated to drop to minus 23 degrees Celsius (minus 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit) over the next three days.
In response to the seismic event, the Xinjiang railway authority promptly closed off routes in the affected areas and suspended 27 train services.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that three individuals were hospitalized in a township located 26 kilometers (16 miles) from the earthquake’s epicenter.
In the same township, a child was successfully rescued from the debris of their collapsed home.
The ongoing rescue efforts involve nearly 200 personnel already deployed to the earthquake-affected zone, with additional hundreds being mobilized for assistance.
Out of the five individuals who sustained injuries, two suffered severe wounds.
The government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported on its official Weibo social media account that over 120 buildings were damaged, including the collapse of 47 houses, damage to 78 houses, and the destruction of some greenhouses, reduced to plastic sheets and rubble.
Earthquake Epicenter in Remote Mountains
The earthquake’s epicenter is situated in a remote, mountainous area characterized by low population density, positioned at an altitude exceeding 3,000 meters (9,842 feet), as reported by CCTV.
Within a 20-kilometer radius from the epicenter, five villages are situated, and the epicenter itself is approximately 50 kilometers away from the primary urban area of Wushi county, according to Xinhua.
As of China’s latest census in 2020, Wushi county has a population of 205,000 residents.
The seismic activity resulted in substantial tremors felt in distant cities, including Kashgar and Hotan, both located hundreds of miles away along the Silk Road in southern Xinjiang.
Videos shared by Xinjiang residents on Chinese social media platforms depict swinging lights, falling objects, and crowds seeking refuge in the streets, wrapped in winter attire and blankets due to overnight temperatures dropping as low as -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).
Furthermore, the tremors extended beyond the Chinese border, with reports of the earthquake being felt in Kyrgyzstan, according to the United States Geological Survey.