By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, January 14: A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 hit Amdo County, Nagchu Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang region early morning on Thursday .
According to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC), the quake hit the county at a depth of 10 kilometers hit at 4:34 AM local time. The same earthquake at a depth of only 5 km with an epicenter in Luntai County struck the Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture at 5:18 AM local time.
“The quake was strongly felt in the county, but no casualties have been reported so far,” said state-run Xinhua news agency.
However, Xinjiang Earthquake Administration has sent a team of seven people to Luntai County to gather information.
“Authorities in Luntai would continue gathering information about casualties and property loss,” a local official said.
Trains in the Xinjiang region were affected by the quake and the railway authorities will have all the tracks checked before restoring services.
Tibetan areas of Nyingtri Prefecture, Shannan Prefecture, Chamdo Prefecture and Lhasa as well felt the shock after an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit the Northeastern part of India with the epic center in Manipur on January 5.
Last year’s massive 7.3 magnitude Nepal earthquake also reached into Tibet causing heavy damage and casualties. Reportedly, Kyidrong County in Tibetan Autonomous Region had at least 27 dead and 4 missing.
However, more worrying news from the Disaster management experts of the Home Ministry of India after the Manipur earthquake warns of a bigger earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.2 or greater to hit the Himalayan region in the near future.
