Severe Earthquake in the Border Region of Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang; Destruction and Injuries Reported

Chinese state media reported that a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the border region of Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang province in China on Tuesday, injuring at least 6 people and causing the collapse of around 50 houses. According to Xinhua News Agency, the earthquake occurred at 2 AM at a depth of 22 kilometers in the mountainous border area of Wushi County in northwestern Xinjiang, affecting at least five villages within a 20-kilometer radius of the epicenter. The agency reported that at least 27 trains were affected by the earthquake, prompting the Xinjiang railway administration to immediately halt train operations. According to the China Earthquake Network Center, about 40 aftershocks had been recorded by 8 AM. Social media users in China also reported that the earthquake was strongly felt in Urumqi, Korla, Kashgar, Yining, and surrounding areas. This is one of several significant earthquakes that have occurred in western China and around Kazakhstan in the past 24 hours. Reports indicate that residents of Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, also evacuated their homes due to the earthquake and gathered in open areas despite the cold weather, but no damage has been reported in that country. The death toll from the earthquake in Japan has reached 110, with search operations continuing. Efforts to rescue survivors of the deadly earthquake in Japan continue. The New Year in Japan began with a severe earthquake and tsunami warning following a 7.6 magnitude quake.