Seismologists recorded 515 aftershocks after the earthquake in Tibet

Seismologists have recorded 515 aftershocks after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This was reported by the Chinese seismological center on January 8.

"As of 8:00 (3:00 Moscow time - Ed.) on January 8, a total of 515 aftershocks have been locally registered, with the largest of them reaching magnitude 4.4," Hong Kong news site hk01.com quoted the center's report as saying.

It is specified that 488 aftershocks were below magnitude 3, 27 were above 3: in particular, 24 with magnitude 3-3.9 and three with magnitude 4-4.9. The most powerful seismic event was located 18 km from the epicenter of the main shock.

The earthquake occurred on Tuesday, January 7, in China near the border with Nepal and Bangladesh. The tremors were recorded in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 km and at a distance of 63 km southwest of the city of Shigadze, which is inhabited by 80 thousand people. According to the latest data, the earthquake killed 126 people and injured 188.

According to the latest data, there was no information about presence of Russian citizens in the earthquake zone in the south-west of China. The Russian Embassy is actively cooperating with the Chinese authorities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping in connection with the loss of life in the earthquake. He also said that Russia shares the grief of those who lost relatives and friends because of the disaster. Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko also expressed condolences.