Quake Measuring 4.2 Rocks El SalvadorAn earthquake measuring 4.2 on the open-ended Richter scale hit El Salvador on Friday, causing widespread alarm but no reported injuries.The tremor follows two major quakes which struck within 31 days of each other earlier this year, killing more than 1,150 people. The National Emergency Committee said the tremor hit at 10:22 a.m. (11:22 a.m. EST/1622 GMT) and the epicenter was just south of the capital San Salvador at a depth of 3.25 miles (5.2 km). Witnesses said many jittery Salvadorans abandoned cars and buildings and fled into the streets. National YSKL radio reported several small landslides on the northern shores of lake Ilopango and on an access road to the city of Soyapango, both close to the capital. The first devastating quake this year struck on Jan. 13, followed by another on Feb. 13. Since then about 1,000 aftershocks have been felt. Damage from the twin quakes, which razed more than 130 communities, has been estimated at between $2 billion and $3 billion. (www.chinadaily.com.cn) |
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