Strong Earthquake Hits TurkmenistanA powerful earthquake measuring 8 points on the Richter scale hit Turkmenistan at 8:11 p.m. Moscow time (1711GMT) Wednesday, a senior official of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry announced Wednesday, December 6.According to Marina Ryklina, head of the press service for the emergency ministry, the epicenter was 25 kilometers north of the city of Nebit-Dag and 125 kilometers southeast of the city of Turkmenbashi. The two cities are both located at Turkmenistan's northwestern desert region, and no casualty or damage figures have been reported so far. The magnitude of the tremors reached 8 points on Richter scale at its epicenter, and 6 points at the Turkmen capital of Ashkhabad. The earthquake was also felt in Russia, particularly in Samara. It even registered up to 2 points in Moscow, Ryklina said. In the Azeri capital of Baku, the magnitude of the tremors measured 4-5 points on the Richter scale, which is the strongest after the 6.5 quake that rocked Baku on November 25, reports reaching here said. Many Baku residents left their homes and poured into the streets as they did in last month's quake, which killed 31 people and resulted in heavy property damage. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |