An earthquake of about 7.2 magnitude shook Tajikistan at 8:37 a.m. local time on Thursday at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), Chinese state television CCTV reported, citing the China Earthquake Networks Center.
The epicentre was about 82 kilometers from the nearest border with China and was strongly felt in some areas in China’s western Xinjiang region, including Kashgar and Artux, CCTV reported.
According to state media, there were no reports of casualties. Fortunately, the closest city of Murghob is only lightly populated, with around 16,000 residents. Power supply and communication remained normal in Kashgar, state media Xinhua reported.
The Xinjiang railroad department called a halt to passenger trains running on the Aksu to Kashgar section of the Southern Xinjiang railway.
Local authorities were inspecting bridges, tunnels and signal equipment, CCTV said.
According to the United States Geological Survey, the area has been hit by a series of aftershocks registering at around 4.8 in magnitude.
