March 23, 2021 Earthquake: Aksu, Xingjiang, China
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Aksu, Xingjiang, China on March 23, 2021 at 21:14:18 UTC, 10 km below the surface. It killed 3 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
- March 23, 2021
- Time
- 21:14:18 UTC
- Place
- Aksu, Xingjiang, China
- Magnitude
- 5.4 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 10 km (6 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 41.812° N, 81.155° E
- Country
- China
The toll
- Deaths
- 3
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses damaged
- 65
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 have died in a 5.4-magnitude earthquake that jolted Aksu Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region early Wednesday morning, local authorities said. Houses of 65 households were damaged to varying degrees, according to the regional emergency management department. (reference #12909)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 17, 1893, Xinjiang, China
- December 1, 2003, Zhaosu, Xinjiang, China
- February 11, 1969, Wushi, Xinjiang Province, China
- January 5, 1987, Baicheng, S Xinjiang Province, China
- 1716, Aksu, Balkhash, S Xinjiang, China
- December 25, 1893, Xinjiang, China
- February 14, 2005, Wushi, Xinjiang Province, China
- January 24, 1987, Xingjiang Weiwuer Zizhiqu Province, Wushi, China
- July 20, 2007, Tekes, Xinjiang, China
More
Significant earthquakes of 2021The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2021Recent 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 10538.