BEIJING:
At least three people were killed and more than 20 injured when a strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit a rural part of China’s far western Xinjiang region on Friday, Chinese officials said.
Many traditional houses in the mainly ethnic Uighur region collapsed when the shallow quake struck about 160 km northwest of the southern city of Hotan in the early morning, according to Chinese emergency officials.
“Currently, the earthquake has resulted in three deaths, including a father and son, and more than 20 injuries,” China National Emergency Broadcasting (CNEB) said on it’s website.
The quake was initially reported at various magnitudes up to 6.5. Several aftershocks were reported, the strongest measuring magnitude 4.8, according to the US Geological Survey.
Residents of the region expressed shock at the intensity of the quake on social media, although authorities said they were optimistic the death toll would not be high.
“If many people are gathered in one place during an earthquake, it can lead to a serious disaster, but in this case, there were relatively few people so it isn’t so serious,” China Earthquake Networks Centre researcher Sun Shihong told state broadcaster China Central Television.
Pictures on social media and state television showed cracks on the walls of buildings and other minor damage. Earthquakes frequently strike China.
