Edited by: Sandeep Dhand
Ludhiana/Delhi
23 January 2024
In a startling turn of events, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) were jolted by strong tremors late last evening as a powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the southern part of China’s Xinjiang. The National Center of Seismology, in a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), reported that the quake had occurred at a depth of 80 kilometres.
This seismic event follows closely on the heels of the mild tremors felt in Delhi and the NCR on January 11, triggered by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan. The epicenter of that quake was located 241 kilometres northeast of Kabul, with tremors extending into Pakistan.
Earlier today, a massive earthquake shook a remote and mountainous area in southwestern China, resulting in 47 people being buried. State broadcaster CCTV reported that more than 200 people were “urgently evacuated” from the affected region. The landslide occurred at 5:51 am in Zhenxiong County, Yunnan province, leading to a swift response from local authorities.
China has been grappling with a series of natural disasters in recent months, many of which are linked to extreme weather events, including sudden, heavy downpours. This latest seismic activity adds to the challenges faced by the nation, underscoring the need for heightened preparedness and response strategies.
As the international community keeps a watchful eye on the situation, concerns grow over the impact of these natural disasters on communities and infrastructure. The seismic events in China serve as a stark reminder of the Earth’s unpredictability and the imperative for nations to fortify their resilience against such calamities.