On April 7th at 13:46, residents and guests of Almaty felt a 2-magnitude earthquake. According to local seismologists, the epicenter was located 460 km southeast of Almaty in China. The earthquake had an energy class of 12.5, a magnitude of 5.3, and a depth of 20 km.
This year, Almaty has experienced two strong earthquakes. The first occurred on the night of January 23, 2024, with underground tremors reaching five points. Authorities will hold accountable certain heads of emergency services for mistakes made on the day of the earthquake in Almaty, as per the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The second earthquake took place on March 4, 2024, with sirens sounding in the city and tremors reaching 5 points. The Department of Emergency Situations in Almaty emphasized the city's location in a seismic zone of 9-10 points, highlighting the importance of individual preparedness for emergencies.
Residents are advised to create a family or group action plan for earthquakes, including determining meeting points, identifying safe spots indoors, and planning evacuation routes. Additionally, rescuers recommend following ten simple rules for safety during earthquakes in high-rise buildings.
After evacuation, individuals should head to the nearest population reception point, of which there are 384 in Almaty, typically located in educational institutions like schools, kindergartens, colleges, and universities. When the signal "Attention to all!" is heard, people should activate available alert systems and follow instructions provided.
To mitigate secondary seismic risks, it is recommended to conduct non-structural seismic reinforcement of rooms by securing bulky furniture to room walls. These measures aim to enhance safety and preparedness for future seismic events in the region.
