Earthquake in China felt across parts of Kyrgyzstan

A strong earthquake in western China was felt across several regions of Kyrgyzstan on December 4, according to the Institute of Seismology of the National Academy of Sciences.

The quake, recorded at 13:44 local time, had a magnitude of 6 at its epicenter, Caliber.Az reports via Kyrgyz media. 

The epicenter was located in China, approximately 40 kilometers southeast of the Kyrgyz village of Bedel, 85 kilometers southeast of the Kumtor gold mine, and about 145 kilometers south of the city of Karakol. Seismologists reported that the intensity of the tremors reached 4.5 in Bedel, around 4 at the Kumtor mine and about 3 in the capital, Bishkek.

Earlier, residents of Almaty in neighbouring Kazakhstan also reported feeling the shaking. Local authorities there said sirens were briefly activated and many people left buildings as a precaution.

By Sabina Mammadli