6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks China's Xinjiang Amidst Heightened Seismic Activity
A significant 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck China's Xinjiang region on Thursday, December 4, 2025, according to reports from the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The powerful tremor, which occurred at a remarkably shallow depth of just 10 kilometers, fortunately resulted in no immediate reports of casualties or widespread damage.
Shallow Depth Increases Risk of Aftershocks
The NCS confirmed the seismic event, pinpointing its epicenter at latitude 41.10 N and longitude 78.61 E within Xinjiang. The shallow nature of the quake is a critical factor, as such events typically lead to more intense shaking at the surface and pose a higher risk to both human life and critical infrastructure compared to deeper quakes. This proximity to the surface increases the likelihood of subsequent aftershocks.
Recent Seismic History in the Region
This recent seismic activity follows closely on the heels of another smaller quake. Just two days prior, on December 2, 2025, a magnitude 3.9 earthquake was recorded in the same vast region, also at a depth of 10 kilometers. That tremor's coordinates were noted as 35.78 N, 77.97 E.
China's Position on Active Tectonic Belts
China is situated in one of the world's most seismically active zones, positioning it precariously between the powerful circum-Pacific and circum-Indian seismic belts. The immense geological pressures exerted by the Pacific, Indian, and Philippine tectonic plates have forged extensive fracture zones throughout the country, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in many of its regions, including Xinjiang.