Tajikistan was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Thursday morning, felt in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, China, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Although the sparsely populated region initially reported no casualties or property damage, the earthquake endangered Lake Sarez, a major water source for the area. As a precaution, power supplies were disrupted in parts of China, and passenger trains halted services in the Aksu to Kashgar section.
%20(7).jpeg) |
| Tajikistan Rocked by 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake |
WA International: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale hit the eastern region of Tajikistan in the early hours of Thursday. According to initial reports, there were no immediate reports of any loss of life or property, likely due to the limited population in the affected area. The earthquake struck at around 6:07 AM local time on Thursday and was felt in several countries including Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and Kyrgyzstan, besides the source country of Tajikistan. The epicenter of the earthquake was reported to be about 47 kilometers away from Alichur in Tajikistan and about 82 kilometers from the nearest Chinese border.
There were reports of strong tremors from China's western Xinjiang region, including Kashgar and Artux. The sparse population in the region, however, meant that there were no reports of any casualties from either of the countries. The Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous region where the earthquake occurred is also the location of Lake Sarez, which is a crucial source of water for the region. Any damage to the lake could have spelled disaster for the entire region spanning multiple countries. The lake was formed by tectonic activity over a century ago.
The earthquake triggered several moderate aftershocks in the region, ranging between 4 and 5 on the Richter scale. There were also reports of disrupted power supplies in parts of China, and passenger trains under the Xinjiang railroad department halted their services in the Aksu to Kashgar section as a precaution against possible damage. The region is known to have a high probability of earthquakes, and this earthquake comes just a month after several major earthquakes hit the Turkey-Syria region, leaving more than 50,000 people dead.
%20(7).jpeg&description=Tajikistan Rocked by 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake){kind=link}