A magnitude-4.0 earthquake struck Qinghe County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region today, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The tremor occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers in Altay Prefecture, a region known for its seismic activity.
Local authorities confirmed no casualties or significant structural damage have been reported. Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to assess rural areas along the epicenter zone. "Our earthquake-resistant infrastructure performed as designed," stated Altay Prefecture's disaster management director during a press briefing.
The quake serves as a reminder of Xinjiang's active geological profile, though experts emphasize this event falls within normal parameters for the region. Seismologists at Lanzhou University are analyzing data to determine potential aftershock risks.
This incident follows China's recent nationwide earthquake preparedness campaign, which has seen over 3,000 emergency drills conducted across earthquake-prone regions since January 2026.
