February 13, 1983 Earthquake: Wuqua S, Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Province, China
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Wuqua S, Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Province, China on February 13, 1983 at 01:40:10 UTC, 16 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
- February 13, 1983
- Time
- 01:40:10 UTC
- Place
- Wuqua S, Xinjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Province, China
- Magnitude
- 6.2 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 16 km (10 mi)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 39.945° N, 75.135° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Injuries
- 2
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 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.
The earthquake in Wu Oia, Xiniiang Auto. Region (February 13, 1983). The geographical coordinates of epicenter were at 40.1 N and 75.3 E. The magnitude was 6.8 R.S. and the depth of focus was 30-35 kilometers. 2 people injured, 7 horses and 2 cattle injured or killed. Intensity VIII. (reference #1268)
Several people injured and moderate damage in the Wuqia area. Felt (IV) in the Andizhan-Naryn area, USSR. Also felt (III) at Frunze and (II) at Tashkent, USSR. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- August 22, 1902, Xinjiang, Turkestan, China
- February 24, 2003, Bachu, S. Xinjiang, China
- October 5, 2008, Nura, Kyrgyzstan
- August 23, 1985, Wuqua-Shufu, S Xinjiang, China
- June 21, 1898, Xinjiang, China
- March 19, 1996, Artux, Jiashi, Bachu, Kashi, S. Xinjiang, China
- January 21, 1997, Jiashi County, Southern Xinjiang, China
- April 11, 1997, S. Xinjiang, Bachu, Shule, Yingjisha, China
- November 1, 1896, Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China
- February 25, 2003, Bachu, S. Xinjiang, China
- August 27, 1998, Jiashi, Southern Xinjiang, China
- March 1, 1997, S. Xinjiang, Jiashi County, Kashi, China
- August 29, 1963, Xinjiang, China
- November 25, 2016, Kashgar, Xinjiang Province, China
- January 19, 2020, Xinjiang Province, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 1983The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1983Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
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 4962.