Established on January 20, 1975, this institute is unique in its field and carries out the registration, analysis, and storage of data on earthquakes of various magnitudes. In 1979, an experimental methodological seismic expedition was created, which later became part of the institute.
Seismologists report that the recorded earthquakes cover almost the entire territory of the country, except for the waters of Lake Issyk-Kul and the Aksai depression located on the border with China.
Over the past 120 years, three powerful earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 8 and ten with magnitudes above 7 have been registered in Kyrgyzstan.
A strong earthquake that occurred in January last year in China had a noticeable impact on the situation in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
The seismic service of the institute operates around the clock, using specialized instruments to monitor the state of the Earth's crust. By promptly reporting earthquakes to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, staff provide updated information within half an hour.
Currently, the Institute has five laboratories, a comprehensive monitoring center, 21 seismic stations, 21 stations for recording strong movements, three geomagnetic stations, and five biochemical stations. However, this is insufficient for modern tasks.
In 2024, with the support of China, a geomagnetic observatory was built in the Jumgal depression, with a budget of $220,000. The data analysis center monitors the seismic situation and is capable of tracking the movement and destruction of glaciers in Kyrgyzstan. The institute's archive holds more than 100,000 digital records of earthquakes, which are of interest both for science and for history.
Under the leadership of Kanatbek Abdrakhmatov, the Institute of Seismology has implemented numerous projects in recent years, attracting funding from abroad, updating equipment, and strengthening its laboratories and centers for more effective task execution.
