A magnitude 6,3 earthquake shook southern China today near the border with India, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, adding that no injuries or severe damage were reported. The quake, which USGS initially estimated at 6,7 on the Richter scale, struck at 06:34 local time (00:34 Greek time) at a small focal depth of 10 km in southern China, in the Tibetan highlands, at the same source.
In Tibet's Ningxi district, where the quake struck, authorities said the epicenter was in an uninhabited area and no casualties have been reported so far. According to the Chinese state news agency New China, the quake caused power outages and property damage in villages in Ningxi. Rescue teams were sent to the area to conduct an investigation, the agency added. The epicenter was reported 240 miles (XNUMX kilometers) from the Indian cities of Along, Pasigat and Teju, according to the USGS.
Southwest China is often hit by strong earthquakes. A very strong earthquake that hit Sichuan province in 2008 claimed the lives of almost 70.000 people and caused extensive damage.