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BEIJING, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Earthquakes that hit the Chinese mainland this year have incurred total direct economic losses of 6.55 billion yuan (942.63 million U.S. dollars), the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) said on Wednesday.
Seismic activity has been weaker and resulted in damage and casualties that were less severe compared with previous years, said Pan Huaiwen of the CENC.
As of Dec. 20, China had been struck by 33 earthquakes of 5.0 magnitude or higher, including 18 on the mainland. The strongest earthquake was measured at 6.7 magnitude.
Most of the destructive earthquakes that struck the Chinese mainland in 2016 occurred in western regions, including Xinjiang and Qinghai, according to the center.
A 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Kaohsiung City on Feb. 6, killing 117 residents and injuring 559 others. This makes Taiwan the Chinese region that suffered the greatest losses from earthquake in 2016, the CENC said.
