2024 Uqturpan earthquake

2024 Uqturpan earthquake
Map
Map of earthquakes (map data)
2024 Uqturpan earthquake is located in Xinjiang
2024 Uqturpan earthquake
2024 Uqturpan earthquake is located in Kyrgyzstan
2024 Uqturpan earthquake
UTC time2024-01-22 18:09:04
ISC event636644404
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date23 January 2024 (2024-01-23)
Local time02:09 CST
Magnitude7.1 Ms
7.0 Mw
Depth13 km (8.1 mi)
Epicenter41°16′08″N 78°38′56″E / 41.269°N 78.649°E / 41.269; 78.649
Areas affectedChina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia
Max. intensityCSIS IX[1]

MMI IX (Violent)
Aftershocks4,200 (9 ≥Mw 5.0)
Casualties3 fatalities, 74 injuries (7 in China and 67 in Kazakhstan)

On 23 January 2024, at 02:09 CST (18:09 UTC on 22 January), a Ms 7.1 or Mw 7.0 earthquake occurred in Uqturpan County, also known as Wushi County, in Xinjiang, China, near the border with Kyrgyzstan.[2]

Tectonic setting

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The earthquake was located in the fold and thrust belt of the Tien Shan mountains. This region is tectonically controlled largely by the collision of India into Asia. The epicentral region is characterized by numerous east-northeast trending reverse faults and left-lateral strike-slip faults and intermontane basins.[2]

The area where the earthquake occurred is seismically active, although earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or larger are infrequent. In the preceding 100 years, there were three events above M 6.5 within 250 km of the 22 January event, with the largest being a M 7.1 event in 1978, approximately 200 km to the north. In 1911, the M 8.0 Kebin earthquake occurred nearly 250 km to the northwest of the 22 January event, near the modern border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The Kebin earthquake killed more than 450 people and caused extensive damage in the region.[2]

Earthquake

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ECDM map

The earthquake occurred as a result of oblique reverse and strike-slip faulting. The rupture had an area of 51 km (32 mi) × 28 km (17 mi), and occurred on either a moderately dipping oblique reverse and right-lateral fault striking east, or a steeply dipping oblique reverse and left-lateral fault striking west.[2] The China Earthquake Networks Center gave the earthquake a magnitude of Ms 7.1,[3] while the United States Geological Survey said the earthquake measured Mww 7.0.[2] It struck at 02:09 CST (18:09 UTC)[4] at a depth of 13 kilometers (8.1 miles).[2] The epicenter was located in a mountainous area with an average altitude of about 3,048 meters.[5]

At least 4,200 aftershocks were recorded,[6] at least 70 of which measured above Mw 3.0.[7] A Mw 5.8 aftershock occurred at 02:14 CST (18:14 UTC),[8] followed by a Mw 5.5 event 28 minutes later[9] and another aftershock measuring Mw 5.0 at 02:50 CST (18:50 UTC).[10] Another quake measuring Mw 5.5 struck at 03:36 CST (19:36 UTC),[11] followed by a Mw 5.6 event at 07:19 CST (23:19 UTC).[12] Another Mw 5.7 aftershock occurred on 29 January.[13]

Intensity

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According to the USGS' PAGER service, the earthquake had a maximum Modified Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), and that 227,000 people were exposed to damaging shaking intensities above VI (Strong).[2] The tremors were felt across Xinjiang, including in Tacheng,[14] Ürümqi, Hotan, Kashgar,[15] Korla and Yining.[16] It was also felt as far away as neighbouring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, forcing residents of Almaty and Bishkek into the streets,[17] as well as in Uzbekistan and Delhi, India.[18] In Kazakhstan, the MSK-64 intensity was estimated at V in Almaty and II in Shymkent.[19] In Jeti-Ögüz District of Issyk-Kul Region in Kyrgyzstan, the MSK-64 intensity was VI.[20]

Impact

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China

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People living in shelters after earthquake

Three people died in Akqi County[21][22] while 9,632 others were displaced.[23] The fatalities were identified as ethnic Kyrgyz.[24] Six people were injured, 47 homes collapsed and another 78 were damaged.[25] Two of the injured were described to be in serious condition.[22] Overall, at least 210 homes collapsed and 8,079 others sustained damage in the affected areas.[23] In Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, where Akqi County is located, 93 buildings collapsed, 851 others were damaged, and 910 livestock animals were killed.[26] A total of 18,346 people across Xinjiang were also displaced.[23] Damage and casualties were minimal as the earthquake occurred in a sparsely populated area.[27]

In Uqturpan County, one person was injured in Yingate,[28] over 900 sheds collapsed and 1,000 houses and a bridge were damaged.[29][30] Two major power lines were downed in the county,[31] although electricity was quickly restored.[32][33] According to authorities, most collapsed homes were located in rural areas and were constructed by its residents whereas newly-constructed government housing did not collapse.[34]

Kazakhstan

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Four incoming flights were delayed at Almaty International Airport; one Air Astana flight was diverted to Turkistan while the others landed safely.[19] Sixty-seven people were injured;[35] three of whom were hospitalized.[20] At least 44 buildings throughout Almaty Oblast were damaged.[36]

Kyrgyzstan

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At least 100 buildings were damaged across the country.[37] Several landslides and rockfalls were reported on the road between Bishkek and Torugart.[38]

Russia

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In Kurgan, at least two buildings were damaged and 246 people were evacuated.[39]

Aftermath

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The earthquake occurred amid below-freezing temperatures in the region[14] that reached −10°C (14°F).[40] Temperatures further fell to −20°C (−4°F) which hampered rescuers as they tried to reach rural areas.[27] 2,000 rescue workers,[26] 152 vehicles and 32 search dogs were deployed to the epicenter region to rescue potential victims.[41] The Ministry of Emergency Management sent 1,000 tents, 5,000 winter coats, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 cotton-padded mattresses, 5,000 folding bed and 1,000 heating stoves to Uqturpan county for disaster relief and placed rescue teams in neighboring Tibet Autonomous Region and Gansu province on standby.[4] At least 10,000 of these items arrived at the disaster zone by noon.[42] The Chinese government announced that it would release 30 million yuan ($4.23 million) in disaster relief funds.[43] The China National Space Administration mobilized its Gaofen satellites to relay images of the disaster zone for analysis by relevant agencies.[44]

Railway authorities in Xinjiang closed off railroads in the affected areas and suspended 27 trains[31] before resuming services at 07:00 following safety checks.[34] Schools in the region and in Kazakhstan were closed to allow students to recover.[45] More than 40 industrial enterprises were temporarily closed in Uqturqan County following the earthquake for safety reasons.[46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Zhōngguó dìzhèng jú fābù xīnjiāng wū shén 7.1 Jí dìzhèn lièdù tú zuìgāo lièdù 9 dù" 中国地震局发布新疆乌什7.1级地震烈度图 最高烈度9度 [The China Earthquake Administration released an intensity map of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Wushi, Xinjiang, with the highest intensity of 9 degrees]. China News (in Chinese). 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: National Earthquake Information Center (22 January 2024). "M 7.0 - 129 km WNW of Aykol, China". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  3. ^ ""[Xīnjiāng ākèsū dìqū wū shén xiàn fāshēng 7.1 Jí dìzhèn]"" 【新疆阿克苏地区乌什县发生7.1级地震】 ["[A 7.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in Wushi County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang]"]. wallstreetcn.com (in Chinese). 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Firefighters rush to help quake-hit county in Xinjiang". China Daily. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Xinjiang earthquake leaves three injured". China Daily. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Feature: Relief and recovery in quake-hit Xinjiang county". Xinhua. 28 January 2024. Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Relief efforts underway after earthquake hits Xinjiang". China Daily. 24 January 2024. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  8. ^ National Earthquake Information Center (22 January 2024). "M 5.8 - 126 km SSE of Kyzyl-Suu, Kyrgyzstan". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  9. ^ National Earthquake Information Center (22 January 2024). "M 5.5 - 122 km WNW of Aykol, China". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  10. ^ National Earthquake Information Center (22 January 2024). "M 5.0 - 118 km SSE of Kyzyl-Suu, Kyrgyzstan". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  11. ^ National Earthquake Information Center (22 January 2024). "M 5.5 - 130 km WNW of Aykol, China". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  12. ^ National Earthquake Information Center (22 January 2024). "M 5.6 - 122 km WNW of Aykol, China". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  13. ^ National Earthquake Information Center (29 January 2024). "M 5.7 - 122 km WNW of Aykol, China". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes remote western China, state media reports". SCMP. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  15. ^ "7.1-magnitude quake hits northwest China's Xinjiang". Xinhua. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Powerful 7.1 earthquake strikes Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border, several injuries reported". Ariana News. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Major 7.0 Earthquake Hits China-Kyrgyzstan Border". Barron’s. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Earthquake of magnitude 7.01 strikes Kyrgyzstan-China border region; tremors felt in Delhi-NCR". Hindustan Times. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Ne smog sovershit' posadku samolet vo vremya zemletryaseniya v Almaty" Не смог совершить посадку самолет во время землетрясения в Алматы [The plane was unable to land during the earthquake in Almaty]. Evening Almaty (in Russian). 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b Shestakova, Natalia (23 January 2024). "Zemletryaseniye v Almaty: 44 postradavshikh" Землетрясение в Алматы: 44 пострадавших [Earthquake in Almaty: 44 injured]. Kaktus Media (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Xīnjiāng wū shén 7.1 Jí dìzhèn zàochéng 3 rén yùnàn 5 rén shòushāng" 新疆乌什7.1级地震造成3人遇难5人受伤 [7.1 magnitude earthquake in Wushi, Xinjiang, kills 3 people and injures 5 others]. Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese). 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b "7.1 magnitude quake rattles western China, killing at least 3 people and collapsing 47 homes". Associated Press. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  23. ^ a b c "Xīnjiāng wū shén 7.1 Jí dìzhèn zhèn qū: Qúnzhòng shēnghuó píngwěn yǒu xù zāiqíng páichá wěnbù tuījìn" 新疆乌什7.1级地震震区:群众生活平稳有序 灾情排查稳步推进 [Xinjiang Wushi 7.1-magnitude earthquake area: People’s lives are stable and orderly, disaster investigation is progressing steadily]. Guangming Daily (in Chinese). 26 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  24. ^ Hoshur, Erkin; Hoshur, Shohret (24 January 2024). "Three killed, 5 injured in 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Xinjiang". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  25. ^ Fan Guobin, ed. (23 January 2024). "Dìzhèn yǐ zhì ā hé qí xiàn 6 rén shòushāng 47 jiān fángwū dǎotā" 地震已致阿合奇县6人受伤 47间房屋倒塌 [The earthquake has injured 6 people and 47 houses collapsed in Aheqi County]. Tianshan Net (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Thousands of people are forced out of their homes after 7.1 quake in western China". Associated Press. 24 January 2024. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  27. ^ a b "Xīnjiāng fāshēng 7.1 Jí qiángliè dìzhèn, sìhū méiyǒu zàochéng dàliàng shāngwáng" 新疆发生7.1级强烈地震,似乎没有造成大量伤亡 [A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 occurred in Xinjiang, but it did not seem to cause a large number of casualties]. Jasmine News Network (in Chinese). 24 January 2024. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Xīnjiāng ākèsū dìqū wū shén xiàn fāshēng 7.1 Jí dìzhèn mínjǐng chénggōng jiùchū yī míng shòushāng cūnmín" 新疆阿克苏地区乌什县发生7.1级地震 民警成功救出一名受伤村民 [A 7.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in Wushi County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang. Police successfully rescued an injured villager]. Daily Economic News (in Chinese). 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  29. ^ "Jílín yī hào wèixīng zhíjí xīnjiāng wū shén xiàn 7.1 Jí dìzhèn: Fángwū sǔnhuài 1000 yú jiān" 吉林一号卫星直击新疆乌什县7.1级地震:房屋损坏1000余间 [The Jilin-1 satellite directly hit a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Wushi County, Xinjiang: more than 1,000 houses were damaged]. cnBeta (in Chinese). 25 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  30. ^ "Xīnjiāng wū shén xiàn 7.1 Jí dìzhèn zàochéng zhìshǎo 3 rén sǐwángguò wàn rén huò zhuǎnyí ānzhì" 新疆烏什縣7.1級地震造成至少3人死亡 過萬人獲轉移安置 [A 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Wushi County, Xinjiang caused at least 3 deaths and over 10,000 people were relocated]. I-Cable (in Chinese). 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  31. ^ a b "Powerful 7.1 earthquake strikes near China's border with Kyrgyzstan". CNN. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Strong magnitude 7.1 earthquake strikes remote western China, state media say". Bay to Bay News. 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  33. ^ "Xīnjiāng xībù fāshēng guīmó 7.1 Dìzhèn wū shén xiàn yīdù tíngdiàn 27 bān lièchē shòu yǐngxiǎng" 新疆西部發生規模7.1地震 烏什縣一度停電 27班列車受影響 [A magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurred in western Xinjiang. There was a power outage in Wushi County and 27 trains were affected]. Australian Chinese Daily (in Chinese). 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  34. ^ a b Moritsugu, Ken (23 January 2024). "7.1 magnitude quake rattles western China, killing at least 3 people and collapsing 47 homes". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Chislo postradavshikh pri zemletryasenii v Almaty dostiglo 67" Число пострадавших при землетрясении в Алматы достигло 67 [The number of victims of the earthquake in Almaty reached 67]. NUR.KZ (in Russian). 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  36. ^ "Stalo izvestno o treshchinakh v desyatkakh shkol i bol'nits posle zemletryaseniya v Almatinskoy oblasti" Стало известно о трещинах в десятках школ и больниц после землетрясения в Алматинской области [It became known about cracks in dozens of schools and hospitals after the earthquake in the Almaty region]. Tengri News (in Russian). 24 January 2024. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  37. ^ "Gosstroy proveril boleye 100 ob"yektov, ot kotorykh postupali zhaloby, chto imeyutsya kakiye-libo treshchiny posle zemletryaseniy, - Oruntayev" Госстрой проверил более 100 объектов, от которых поступали жалобы, что имеются какие-либо трещины после землетрясений, - Орунтаев [Gosstroy checked more than 100 objects from which there were complaints that there were any cracks after earthquakes, - Oruntaev]. AKIpress (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  38. ^ "Zemletryaseniye v Kyrgyzstane Oboshlos' Bez Posledstviy" ЗЕМЛЕТРЯСЕНИЕ В КЫРГЫЗСТАНЕ ОБОШЛОСЬ БЕЗ ПОСЛЕДСТВИЙ [THE EARTHQUAKE IN KYRGYZSTAN WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES]. 24.kz (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  39. ^ "Chto izvestno o zemletryasenii v Kurgane na 24 yanvarya" Что известно о землетрясении в Кургане на 24 января [What is known about the earthquake in Kurgan on January 24]. URA News (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Three dead as 7.1 earthquake strikes near China's border with Kyrgyzstan". CNN. 23 January 2024. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  41. ^ "Ākèsū dìqū wū shén xiàn fāshēng 7.1 Jí dìzhèn xīnjiāng xiāofáng qǐdòng dìzhèn zāihài yī jí xiǎngyìng" 阿克苏地区乌什县发生7.1级地震 新疆消防启动地震灾害一级响应 [A 7.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in Wushi County, Aksu Prefecture. Xinjiang Firefighting launched a first-level earthquake disaster response]. news.qq.com (in Chinese). 22 January 2024. Archived from the original on 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
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