A 7.1 magnitude earthquake has shaken the remote western region of Xinjiang, China in the early hours of Tuesday. The earthquake occurred at the county of Wushu, in Aksul Prefecture.
Despite the intensity of the earthquake, there have been no immediate reports of damages or casualties at the epicenter. The area, mainly inhabited by the Uighur ethnic group, is already facing additional challenges due to extreme weather conditions.
Rescue teams are heading to the epicenter, and neighboring countries like Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan also felt the impact of the earthquake.
The earthquake has been felt beyond the Chinese borders, reaching neighboring countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In Almaty, the capital of Kazakhstan, people left their homes in response to the strong tremors.
Some aftershocks were reported, measuring up to 4.5, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The situation is further complicated by extreme weather conditions in the area, with the Wushu county experiencing temperatures well below freezing, down to -18 degrees Celsius.
The affected area is predominantly rural and inhabited by the Uighur population, a predominantly Muslim Turkic ethnic group. The Uighurs have been the subject of a state campaign of forced assimilation and mass detention in recent years.
The National Fire and Rescue Administration of China deployed teams to the region, as evidenced in a video posted on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
The last time a 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in this area was in 1978, about 200 kilometers north of the recent event. This incident has brought back memories of the earthquake that struck the Gansu province in northwestern China last December, claiming the lives of 151 people. It was the deadliest earthquake in China in nine years, reflecting the nation’s vulnerability to seismic events.
In conclusion, the recent earthquake in Xinjiang is a reminder of the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters, and the potential impact of such events on neighboring countries. The lack of immediate damage or casualties at the epicenter of the earthquake is positive news, but it is vital to monitor the situation closely and provide support to the affected communities.
