SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Two moderate earthquakes Monday shook Indian-controlled Kashmir and its adjoining areas.
According to officials in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck at 2:27 GMT. "The epicenter of the earthquake was eastern Kashmir located at 35.1 degrees north latitude and 77. 1 degrees east longitude," said an official at Meteorological Department's control room.
The earthquake was felt throughout Kashmir. Panic stricken residents rushed out of houses and buildings in Srinagar and other towns because of tremors.
Earlier, at 19:45 GMT, a magnitude of 5.5 quake located at 35.8 degrees north latitude and 77.5 degrees east longitude struck along the Indian-controlled Kashmir-China border.
Officials said they are collecting information about the possible damage.
Geologists say Indian-controlled Kashmir is located in a zone of high seismic activity. Srinagar falls in Seismic Zone-V and other parts of Indian-controlled Kashmir in Seismic Zone IV.
A high intensive quake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir shook the region on Oct. 8, 2005, causing large scale destruction killing 80,000 people.
|
