February 13, 2003 Earthquake: Urumqi, N. Xinjiang, China
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Urumqi, N. Xinjiang, China on February 13, 2003 at 17:34:20 UTC, 24 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, 2003
- Time
- 17:34:20 UTC
- Place
- Urumqi, N. Xinjiang, China
- Magnitude
- 5.3 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 24 km (15 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 43.897° N, 85.923° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 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.
Minor damage in the Urumqi area. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 22, 1906, Xinjiang Province, China
- September 25, 1863, Xinjiang, China
- March 9, 1944, Xinjiang Province, China
- December 8, 2016, Urumqi, N. Xinjiang, China
- February 22, 2015, Shawan, Xinjiang Province, China
- June 29, 2012, Xinjiang Province, China
- November 13, 1965, Xinjiang Province, China
- April 24, 1955, Xinjiang Province, China
- November 23, 2006, North, Xinjiang Province, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 2003The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2003Recent 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 5685.