New Delhi, Jan 23, 2024: Strong tremors were felt in the Delhi-National Capital Region after an earthquake of 7.2 magnitude on the Richter scale struck China’s Southern Xinjiang region on Monday night.
"Earthquake of Magnitude:7.2, Occurred on 22-01-2024, 23:39:11 IST, Lat: 40.96 & Long: 78.30, Depth: 80 Km ,Location: Southern Xinjiang, China," National Center for Seismology said.
Several injuries were reported and some houses collapsed along the Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border, officials said. The Xinjiang railway department immediately stopped operations and 27 trains following the quake.
According to Chinese media, as many as 14 aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 and above were recorded near the epicentre Wushi County in China’s northwestern region. The largest aftershock was 5.3 magnitude, about 17 kms away from the epicentre.
Chinese authorities activated emergency response services and several departments coordinated relief efforts, providing cotton tents, coats, quilts, mattresses, folding beds and heating stoves, Reuters news agency reported quoting Chinese sources.
In Kazakhstan, the emergencies ministry reported the same earthquake at a magnitude of 6.7.
Residents in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s biggest city, fled their houses and gathered outside despite cold weather, some dressed in pajamas and slippers.
The tremors, followed by aftershocks about 30 minutes later, were also felt in Uzbekistan. No injuries or damages have been reported from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Courtesy: India Today