Sunday, 25 January 2009 at 9:47 AM Beijing time (7:47 local time), an earthquake measuring approximately 5.0 on the Richter scale shook the Chapchal Sibe Autonomous County in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of northwestern Xinjiang. The quake could also be felt in neighboring Ghulja, Zhaosu County, and Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture. Almaty, Kazakhstan also felt the shock. News reports estimate 4,500 people to have been displaced by the earthquake, which destroyed 200 homes and damaged 3,000 other buildings. Xinhua emphasizes that the agency has received no reports of injuries to livestock and missing persons and that there are no apparent casualties thus far.
Immediately following the quake, the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Party Committee and People’s Government dispatched County Secretary Li Hongxing and officials from the prefectural Seismology Bureau, Sanitation Bureau, and Public Security Bureau to assess the damage and lead recovery efforts.
Update: Xinhua has clearer estimates of damage, though the numbers are little different. Damages are estimated at 20 705 000 RMB.
Sources:
“Thousands displaced by quake in Xinjiang, China” Reuters
“新疆察布查尔县5级地震末造成人员伤亡” Xinhua
“چاپچال ناھىيىسىدە 5 بال يەر تەۋرىدى” RFA
“Earthquake took place in south Kazakhstan” Trend News
“伊犁地震受灾群众得到妥善安置救灾物资陆续到位” Xinhua
Detailed information about the earthquake at USGS
