New Delhi: A series of earthquakes shook three countries in the early hours of Tuesday, according to the National Center for Seismology. The quakes occurred in Papua New Guinea, China, and Pakistan between 3 am and 4 am.
The strongest quake, with a magnitude of 6.5, struck off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea at 03:16 am. The epicenter was located about 20 kilometers off the coast, near the city of Wewak, the capital of the Pacific island’s East Sepik province. The quake was felt by residents in the coastal areas, but there were no reports of damage or casualties. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no threat of a tsunami from the quake.
About half an hour later, two moderate quakes hit India’s two neighboring countries, China and Pakistan. An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 jolted Jijang, a county in the southwestern province of Sichuan, China, at 03:45 am. The quake was shallow, with a depth of only 10 kilometers, and caused some buildings to shake. However, no injuries or deaths were reported. The local authorities said they were monitoring the situation and providing relief to the affected areas.
An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 rattled Pakistan at 03:38 am. The quake was centered in the Balochistan region, near the border with Afghanistan. The tremors were felt in several cities, including Quetta, Peshawar, and Islamabad. Some people rushed out of their homes in panic, but there was no major damage or loss of life.
The three earthquakes that occurred within a span of half an hour in different countries are certainly alarming. However, it is fortunate that none of them caused any serious harm to the people or the environment. The National Center for Seismology said it was keeping a close watch on the seismic activity in the region and urged people to stay calm and follow safety precautions.
