A magnitude 7.1 earthquake has struck the Kyrgyzstan-Xinjiang border region with reports of several injuries and collapsed houses, Chinese state media reports.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The epicentre of the quake struck at 2.09am (1809 GMT) on Tuesday at a depth of 22km in the mountainous border area of Wushi County in northwest China's Xinjiang region, according to the China Earthquake Administration.
The Xinjiang Earthquake Agency said the epicentre was about 50km from Wushi, with five villages located within a 20km radius around the epicentre, Xinhua News reported.
As of 8am (0000 GMT) Tuesday, 40 aftershocks had been recorded, China Earthquake Networks Centre said.
Netizens on China's Weibo social media platform reported that the earthquake was felt strongly in Urumqi, Korla, Kashgar, Yining and surrounding areas.
The Xinjiang railway department immediately stopped operations and 27 trains were reportedly affected by the earthquake, Xinhua said.
China's Earthquake Administration said it immediately activated emergency response services in conjunction with the Office of the Earthquake Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management, dispatching a group to guide local rescue efforts.
China's Ministry of Emergency Management said several departments co-ordinated relief efforts, providing cotton tents, coats, quilts, mattresses, folding beds and heating stoves, Xinhua said.
Xinjiang has been struck by a few sizeable earthquakes in the past 24 hours.
In nearby Kazakhstan, the emergencies ministry reported the latest earthquake at a magnitude of 6.7.
In Kazakhstan's biggest city, Almaty, residents fled their houses and gathered outside despite cold weather, some dressed in pyjamas and slippers.
No damage has been reported.
The tremors, followed by aftershocks about 30 minutes later, were also felt in Uzbekistan.
Australian Associated Press