Dharamshala: Two earthquakes measuring 5.7 and 5.5 magnitudes on the Richter scale hit southwest Tibet earlier today, according to China's Earthquake Networks Center. Both of the earthquakes occurred in the Nyanrong County (Ch: Nyainrong) in Nagchu (Ch: Nagqu) Prefecture less than an hour apart, at 10:06 and 10:44 AM local time.
The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the epicenter of the first quake was at 32.4 degrees North latitude and 93.0 degrees East longitude, at a depth of approximately 8 kilometers. The epicenter of the second was 32.5 degrees North latitude and 92.8 degrees East longitude at a depth of approximately 7 kilometers.
According to Zhu Quan, the director of the seismological bureau of Chinese-occupied Tibet, the Nyanrong region has suffered frequent quakes in recent years. The region is sparsely inhabited and mountainous with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters. No reports of casualties or damages were immediately available.
