An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 hit the border region between Kyrgyzstan and Xinjiang, causing tremors that were felt in Delhi-NCR. The seismic event occurred at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). The quake struck just after 2:00 am (1800 GMT Monday) at a depth of 27 kilometers (17 miles) in China's Xinjiang region, about 140 kilometers west of the city of Aksu.

Despite being approximately 1,400 kilometers away, New Delhi and its surrounding regions reported significant tremors from the earthquake. The emergency ministry in nearby Kazakhstan also registered a similar earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7. China's state broadcaster, CCTV, reported 14 aftershocks, with two of them measuring above a magnitude of 5.

The earthquake occurred in a rural area predominantly inhabited by the Uyghur community, a Muslim Turkic ethnic group that has witnessed forced assimilation and mass detentions. The epicenter of the earthquake is Uchturpan County, which has experienced extremely cold temperatures of up to negative 18 degrees Celsius (just below zero Fahrenheit) as forecasted by the China Meteorological Administration.

The tremors and subsequent aftershocks were also felt in Uzbekistan, approximately 30 minutes after the initial earthquake. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) mentioned the possibility of casualties, although no immediate reports have been received so far. The rural and mountainous area affected by the earthquake is likely to have significant damage, as stated in the USGS report.

This earthquake comes just a day after a devastating landslide in Southwest China claimed the lives of at least eight individuals. It also follows a December earthquake in Gansu province that resulted in the loss of 148 lives and displacement of thousands. The region has been experiencing frigid temperatures, leading to the closure of schools and highways due to snowstorms.

Authorities will continue to monitor the situation and assess the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake.