The magnitude 6.1 earthquake at the border between China and Kazakhstan on December 1st, 2003, and its seismic damage characteristics

Abstract

The magnitude 6.1 earthquake that occurred on December 1, 2003, at the border between China and Kazakhstan marked the first significant earthquake in the central Tianshan region of this century. This study presents an on-site investigation of this earthquake, including assessment of house damage and surface deformation, with a specific focus on the destructive impact on different types of houses. The Isoseismal map of the earthquake was drawn based on the survey data in China and the survey results of Kazakhstan's counterparts abroad. We also analyzed the tectonic structure of this earthquake based on geological data. The earthquake sequence's focal mechanism and characteristics were analyzed based on the seismic records. This study provides a comprehensive introduction to the main features of this earthquake and its disasters, which has important reference value for understanding the destructive effects of such earthquakes. Furthermore, it also sheds light on the emergency response work of Chinese earthquake workers during such earthquakes.