The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in a remote and mountainous part of western China today (February 12, 2014). It’s not yet known if the quake, which occurred in China’s sparsely populated region of Xinjiang, caused casualties or significant damage.
Details of the event, from USGS, follow:
Event Time
2014-02-12 09:19:48 UTC
2014-02-12 17:19:48 UTC+08:00 at epicenter
Location 35.922°N 82.549°E
Depth=10.0km (6.2mi)
Nearby Cities
268km (167mi) ESE of Hotan, China
493km (306mi) ENE of Leh, India
522km (324mi) SSE of Aral, China
546km (339mi) ESE of Shache, China
902km (560mi) ENE of Islamabad, Pakistan
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.