On March 4th, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kazakhstan, with the epicenter located 31 km south of Almaty. The tremors, felt with a strength of 5 points in the city, caused panic among residents who rushed out to the streets fearing aftershocks or damage.
Immediately after the earthquake, Almaty's alert systems were activated, prompting citizens to evacuate buildings. The subway services were halted for tunnel inspections, while schools and colleges canceled afternoon classes. The city police increased their presence to ensure public safety.
Over 1132 people sought assistance at reception centers, with 384 such facilities set up across the city. Fortunately, significant structural damage was not reported, although some buildings showed cracks and shattered windows, as seen in local media footage.
Authorities warned of potential aftershocks and advised residents to remain at designated reception points. This earthquake marks the second significant seismic event in Almaty in the past two months, following a 5.0 magnitude tremor in late January near the Kyrgyzstan-China border.
