A powerful earthquake struck northern China, close to the Kyrgyzstan border, claiming three lives and injuring five others on Tuesday.
According to state media reports, the seismic event occurred just after 2:00 a.m. local time, with its epicentre located at 13 kilometres in China’s Xinjiang region, approximately 140 kilometres west of Aksu.
Initially, Beijing’s Xinhua news agency indicated that six individuals in Akqi County had sustained injuries, with two reported as “serious.” Subsequent updates from the agency confirmed the tragic news of three fatalities and five injuries.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, Akqi County witnessed the collapse of 47 buildings, with an additional 78 structures suffering varying degrees of damage, as reported through the local government’s social media channels.
Xinhua provided details from the epicentre area in rural Wushi County, noting the collapse of two residential dwellings, cattle sheds, and a temporary power outage.
In response to the incident, the health ministry of neighbouring Kazakhstan revealed that 44 individuals with “various” injuries sought medical attention in Almaty, the largest city in the country. The earthquake’s impact underscores the immediate need for support and recovery efforts in the affected regions.
