EERI’s Learning From Earthquakes (LFE) program is currently monitoring the impacts of the M7.0 earthquake that struck the Xinjiang province of China near the Kyrgyzstan border at 2:09 AM local time on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 (12:09 AM in Kyrgyzstan; 18:09 PM on January 22 UTC). According to media reports, the shaking was felt across parts of Western China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, and as far as northern India. At least three aftershocks of M5.0 or greater have occurred. Information about the impacts is limited at this time, but there are reports of some building damage and disruption to electricity networks in the Aksu Prefecture area of Xinjiang. Minor building damage was also reported in Kyrgyzstan. The EERI community extends its sympathy to those affected.
For more information, visit the following resources:
USGS:
Media Coverage:
- 7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western China (New York Times)
- Strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes remote western China, state media say (Seattle Times/AP)
- Earthquake of magnitude 7.01 strikes Kyrgyzstan-China border region; tremors felt in Delhi-NCR (Hindustan Times)
- Update: 7.1-magnitude quake hits northwest China's Xinjiang (Xinhua)
Learning From Earthquakes Resources:
- EERI Newsletter Report on M7.5 August 18, 1992 Kyrgyzstan earthquake
- LFE archive page for M7.9 May 12, 2008 Wenchuan, China earthquake
- World Housing Encyclopedia building type report: Multistory base-isolated brick masonry building with reinforced concrete floors and roof (China)
- World Housing Encyclopedia building type reports for Kyrgyzstan
EERI is evaluating the situation and consulting with local colleagues and experts to determine how LFE should respond. More information will be shared on the EERI website in the future.
