February 25, 1991 Earthquake: Kalpin, S Xinjiang, China
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Kalpin, S Xinjiang, China on February 25, 1991 at 14:30:27 UTC, 21 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 25, 1991
- Time
- 14:30:27 UTC
- Place
- Kalpin, S Xinjiang, China
- Magnitude
- 6.1 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 21 km (13 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 40.386° N, 78.959° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Injuries
- 3
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 8,561
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.
Three people were injured and at least 120 houses collapsed and 8,441 houses damaged in the Kalpin area. Ground cracks and earthquake lights were reported in the epicentral area. Felt at Akqi, Aksu, Bachu and Wasi. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 24, 2003, Bachu, S. 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
- February 25, 2003, Bachu, S. Xinjiang, China
- February 11, 1969, Wushi, Xinjiang Province, China
- January 22, 2024, Xinjiang Province, Kazakhstan, China
- August 27, 1998, Jiashi, Southern Xinjiang, China
- January 19, 2020, Xinjiang Province, China
- May 4, 2003, Yopurga, S. Xinjiang, China
- February 20, 2009, Xinjiang Province, China
- April 13, 1961, Xinjiang, China
- March 11, 2013, S, Xinjian Province, China
- January 24, 1987, Xingjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Province, Wushi, China
- 1716, Aksu, Balkhash, S Xinjiang, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 1991The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1991Recent 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 5276.