7.2 magnitude earthquake hits China’s Xinjiang, several injured; Tremors felt in Delhi-NCR also

On Monday night, strong tremors were felt in Delhi and its NCR region after a massive earthquake of 7.2 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted China’s Southern Xinjiang region.

7.2 magnitude earthquake hits China’s Xinjiang

Taking it to X, the National Center for Seismology said, “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.”

Several injured, building collapsed

Amid the quake, several sustained injuries, and some houses collapsed along the Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border, said the officials. The Xinjiang railway department immediately stopped operations and 27 trains following this destruction earthquake in China.

As per the media reports, at least 14 aftershocks of magnitude 3.0 and above were recorded near the epicenter of Wushi County in China’s northwestern region. The largest aftershock was 5.3 magnitude, about 17 km from the epicenter.

Emergency response activated

Following these earthquakes, the Chinese authorities activated emergency response services and several departments coordinated relief efforts, providing cotton tents, coats, quilts, mattresses, folding beds, and heating stoves, the media report said.

Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, the emergencies ministry reported the same earthquake with 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.