1716 Earthquake: Aksu, Balkhash, S Xinjiang, China
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Aksu, Balkhash, S Xinjiang, China in 1716, 30 km below the surface.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- 1716
- Place
- Aksu, Balkhash, S Xinjiang, China
- Magnitude
- 7.5 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 30 km (19 mi)
- Intensity
- 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 41.200° N, 80.300° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
City of Aksu destroyed; felt in Balkhash and Zaysan. (reference #223)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 1, 2003, Zhaosu, Xinjiang, China
- February 11, 1969, Wushi, Xinjiang Province, China
- March 23, 2021, Aksu, Xingjiang, China
- January 22, 2024, Xinjiang Province, Kazakhstan, China
- December 25, 1893, Xinjiang, China
- January 24, 1987, Xingjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Province, Wushi, China
- February 14, 2005, Wushi, Xinjiang Province, China
- January 5, 1987, Baicheng, S Xinjiang Province, China
- February 25, 1991, Kalpin, S Xinjiang, China
- February 20, 2009, Xinjiang Province, China
- June 5, 1970, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan
More
Significant earthquakes of 1716The 1700sRecent earthquakes near here
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 1196.