Powerful 7.2 earthquake strikes Tajikistan, near border with China

An earthquake of about 7.2 magnitude shook Tajikistan at 8:37 a.m. (0037 GMT) on Thursday at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), Chinese state television CCTV reported citing the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicentre was about 82 km 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.

There were no reports of casualties. 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, state media said.

Local authorities were inspecting bridges, tunnels and signal equipment, CCTV said.

(Reuters)