The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Tajikistan early Thursday near China’s far western Xinjiang region.
The quake struck around 5:37 am local time 67 kilometers (41 miles) west of Murghob at a depth of about 20.5 kilometres (12.7 miles). Meanwhile, China Earthquake Networks Center said the quake was 7.2 magnitude and 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep.
The USGS estimates that “little or no population” will be exposed to landslides from the earthquake. The area is remote and lightly populated.
The earthquake’s epicentre appeared to be in Gorno-Badakhshan, a semi-autonomous eastern region that borders Afghanistan and China. A 5.0 magnitude aftershock hit the area about 20 minutes after the initial quake.