A strong earthquake of 7.1 magnitude rocked Xinjiang in Western China on Tuesday, causing the death of at least three people, injuring five, and displacing more than 12,400 people from their homes that were damaged, reported international media.
The earthquake’s epicenter was in a mountainous location in Uchturpan county, near the Kazakhstan border, around 3,000 meters above sea level.
Those who were displaced spent the night in tents and other shelters, lighting campfires to fend off the freezing cold.
Because of the limited population around the epicenter, the toll on lives and property was low.
According to Kizilsu Kirgiz prefecture deputy party secretary Wurouziali Haxihaerbayi, the earthquake damaged 851 houses to varying degrees, destroying 93 structures near the epicenter, and killing 910 cattle.
As of 8:00 am. Wednesday, CCTV had reported 1,104 aftershocks, including five exceeding magnitude 5.0. The maximum recorded magnitude was 5.7.