BEIJING, January 8th (AMSP/CGTN) – – A series of aftershocks have hit China’s Xizang Autonomous Region following a deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake Tuesday morning, and further tremors could be possible in the region, said the China Earthquake Networks Center.
Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead, and 62 others injured as of 12:30 Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in Xizang Autonomous Region at 09:05 Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to the regional disaster relief headquarters.
The epicenter was monitored at 28.5 degrees north latitude and 87.45 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, according to a report issued by the China Earthquake Networks Center.
The epicenter is located in Tsogo Township of Dingri County, which has a population of approximately 6,900 people within a 20-km radius. There are 27 villages within this area. Official data show Dingri County has a population of over 61,000 people.
“As of 10:30, approximately three earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been recorded. And there were eight earthquakes between magnitude 3 and 3.9. Generally, the aftershock activity is relatively weak so far. So, an earthquake of magnitude 5 or higher is entirely possible, but the possibility of a much larger earthquake is not high, according to the current assessment made by experts,” said Jiang Haikun, a research fellow with the China Earthquake Networks Center.
Some 22,000 disaster relief items, including cotton tents, cotton coats, quilts and folding beds, together with special relief materials for high-altitude and frigid areas, have been dispatched by central authorities to the quake-hit area. Over 1,500 local firefighters and rescue workers have also been dispatched to the ground.
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