Strong earthquake in Kyrgyzstan felt in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

A powerful earthquake that struck Kyrgyzstan in the early hours of October 6 was felt across parts of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

According to the Institute of Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan, the earthquake registered a magnitude of 6. Meanwhile, the Republican Center for Seismological Monitoring under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the epicenter reached a magnitude of 7.

The tremors were recorded at 2:28 a.m. local time, with the epicenter located in the Talas mountain range in Kyrgyzstan — 23 kilometers northwest of the village of Chakmak-Suu, 25 kilometers northeast of Bashki-Tush, and 85 kilometers southwest of the city of Talas. The intensity of the earthquake reached 5.5 points in Chakmak-Suu, 5 points in Bashki-Terek, and 4.5 points in the villages of Kara-Sai, Kek-Sai, Sheker, Kaynar, Chon-Kara-Buura, and Bakai-Ata. In Talas city, the tremors measured 4 points.

The earthquake was also felt in southern Kazakhstan. According to the National Scientific Center for Seismological Observation and Research, the quake was recorded at 1:29 a.m. Astana time with a magnitude of 5.9. Residents of the Zhambyl and Turkestan regions, as well as the city of Shymkent, reported feeling the tremors.

In Uzbekistan, the intensity of the earthquake was recorded as follows:

•  3–4 points in Namangan region (106 km)
•  3 points in Andijan region (144 km)
•  2–3 points in Fergana region (176 km)
•  2–3 points in Tashkent city (199 km)
•  2 points in Syrdarya region (275 km)

No damage has been reported so far in any of the affected countries.

For reference, a separate earthquake occurred a day earlier, on October 5, at 12:20 p.m. on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border. That quake had an estimated magnitude of 4 and struck the Maidantag mountain range, 140 kilometers southeast of the city of Naryn. It was not felt in any populated areas of Kyrgyzstan.