Earthquake of magnitude 4.9 strikes China
Xinjiang, April 5
An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 occurred in Xinjiang province of China on Sunday, according to a statement by the National Centre for Seismology.
As per the NCS, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 145km.
In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.9, On: 05/04/2026 18:54:36 IST, Lat: 39.643 N, Long: 74.437 E, Depth: 145 Km, Location: Xinjiang."
Earthquakes can occur anywhere between the Earth's surface and about 700 kilometres below the surface. For scientific purposes, this earthquake depth range of 0 - 700 km is divided into three zones: shallow, intermediate, and deep, as per USGS data.
Shallow earthquakes are between 0 and 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 - 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 - 700 km deep. In general, the term "deep-focus earthquakes" is applied to earthquakes deeper than 70 km, the USGS states.
— ANI
Reader Comments
At 145km depth, this was an intermediate quake. Thankfully, deeper ones usually cause less surface damage. Good to see our NCS tracking these events accurately.
Interesting data from the USGS about depth classification. Makes you realize how much seismic activity happens globally that we never hear about.
While we must always be compassionate, I wish Indian media gave the same detailed coverage to earthquakes in our own Northeastern states. Sometimes local tragedies get less attention.
Xinjiang is a seismically active region. This magnitude at that depth likely meant minimal impact. Still, it's a reminder for us in India to ensure our own buildings are quake-resistant, especially in zones 4 and 5.
The precision of the coordinates and timing is impressive. Science bringing clarity. Hope there was no loss of life or property.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.