A 5.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in Aheqi County, Xinjiang

On October 17, at 6:23 AM, a 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Akto County in the Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang, with a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. As of 11 AM on the same day, there have been no reports of casualties or property damage.

In response to the quake, the local government of Akto County activated its emergency response plan immediately. A forward team from the Kizilsu fire rescue brigade has been dispatched to the epicenter. The Xinjiang Fire Rescue Command also initiated its earthquake rescue plan and is preparing to provide additional support if needed.

In a phone interview with our reporter, a representative from the Kizilsu government shared that life for residents remains stable and orderly, with water and electricity supplies operating normally.

The epicenter of the earthquake is located about 22 kilometers from the urban area of Akto County and 253 kilometers from the prefecture’s capital, Atush. The average altitude within a 5-kilometer radius of the epicenter is approximately 2,730 meters.

Local authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation and are ready to implement further rescue measures as necessary. Akto County is situated in the heart of the Tianshan Mountains in western Xinjiang and shares its western and northern borders with Kyrgyzstan, being over 1,100 kilometers away from Urumqi.