3 Dead, Over 50 Injured as 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks China-Kyrgyzstan Border

Almaty: A powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck the mountainous border region between China and Kyrgyzstan early Tuesday morning, causing widespread damage and claiming the lives of at least three people. Dozens more were injured and thousands displaced in the aftermath of the disaster.

The quake, centred in China’s Xinjiang region, occurred around 2:00 am, 140 kilometres west of Aksu.

The earthquake claimed three lives, injured five, and prompted the relocation of 12,426 individuals in the affected area. Kazakhstan’s health ministry reported 44 people seeking medical assistance in Almaty. Images on social media showed citizens evacuating buildings, while CCTV footage revealed damages, collapsed structures and rescue efforts.

In Akqi County, Xinjiang, six injuries were reported, two deemed serious, with 47 buildings collapsing and 78 sustaining damage. Nearby Wushi County experienced structural damage, including collapsed houses and livestock sheds. Video footage showcased the intensity of the quake, causing household items to fall and damages to infrastructure.

The tremors reached as far as New Delhi, 1,400 kilometres away. A witness in Aksu described people braving the frigid temperatures to seek safety outside during the shaking. Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, also experienced residents fleeing homes as walls shook and furniture shifted.

While the Kyrgyz Ministry for Emergency Situations reported no casualties or damage in Bishkek, the earthquake’s impact extended to five villages within 20 kilometres of the epicentre. Several aftershocks followed, with magnitudes reaching 5.5.