A powerful magnitude-7.1 earthquake rocked Wushi County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region early Tuesday, with experts warning residents to brace for continued aftershocks. 🌍 The quake—one of the strongest in the area this decade—struck at a shallow depth of 22 km, sending tremors across cities like Aksu and Kashgar.
Han Yanyan, a senior engineer at the China Earthquake Networks Center, confirmed this is likely a 'mainshock-aftershock sequence,' meaning more shaking is coming. Over 40 aftershocks ≥M3.0 had already been recorded by Tuesday morning, including a M5.3 tremor. 💥
The quake occurred in the Tianshan seismic zone—a hotspot where tectonic plates clash beneath Central Asia. Scientists note this area averages a M7+ quake every 7 years, with Tajikistan experiencing a similar event in 2023. 🏔️
While the sparsely populated epicenter limited immediate casualties, authorities urge caution as strong aftershocks could follow. Most shaking was felt in Xinjiang's urban centers, where emergency responses are underway.
Reference(s):
Aftershocks expected after M7.1 earthquake hits NW China's Xinjiang
cgtn.com
