December 1, 2003 Earthquake: Zhaosu, Xinjiang, China
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Zhaosu, Xinjiang, China on December 1, 2003 at 01:38:31 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 11 people.
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
- December 1, 2003
- Time
- 01:38:31 UTC
- Place
- Zhaosu, Xinjiang, China
- Magnitude
- 6 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 42.905° N, 80.515° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Deaths
- 11
- Injuries
- 47
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
- Houses destroyed
- 769
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.
At least 11 people killed, 47 injured, 769 houses destroyed and many damaged in Zhaosu County, Xinjiang, China. Felt strongly in southeastern Kazakhstan. Also felt at Bishkek,
Kyrgyzstan. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 11, 1969, Wushi, Xinjiang Province, China
- March 23, 2021, Aksu, Xingjiang, China
- January 5, 1987, Baicheng, S Xinjiang Province, China
- June 18, 1786, Xinjiang, China
- June 5, 1970, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan
- July 11, 1889, Cilik, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan
- July 20, 2007, Tekes, Xinjiang, China
- March 24, 1978, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan
- February 14, 2005, Wushi, Xinjiang Province, China
- November 1, 2011, Xinjiang Province, China
- January 24, 1987, Xingjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Province, Wushi, China
- 1716, Aksu, Balkhash, S Xinjiang, China
- December 25, 1893, Xinjiang, 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 5738.