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Moderate 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes China's Xinjiang Region
- •A moderate earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale struck China's Xinjiang region late Sunday night at 10:55 PM IST.
- •According to the National Centre for Seismology, the epicentre was located at Latitude 36.683 degrees North and Longitude 77.064 degrees East.
- •The quake originated at a depth of 190 kilometres, meaning surface tremors were likely muted across the area.
- •There are no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage following the seismic event.
- •China's unique geographical position between major seismic belts makes the region highly prone to frequent seismic activity.
Key Questions Answered
An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 on the Richter scale struck China's Xinjiang region late Sunday night on October 18, 2026, at 10:55 PM IST. The epicentre was located at Latitude 36.683° N and Longitude 77.064° E at a depth of 190 kilometres. No immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage have been received.
The recent earthquake in Xinjiang originated at a depth of 190 kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface, classifying it as an intermediate-to-deep focus quake. Because of this significant depth, surface tremors were likely muted across the region.
China is positioned between the two largest seismic belts—the circum-Pacific seismic belt and the circum-Indian seismic belt. The region features well-developed seismic fracture zones as it is squeezed by the Pacific, Indian, and Philippine plates.
