Central China hit by 7.3-magnitude quake as earthquake series shakes southwestern China

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      A major earthquake has just shaken Central China while Southwestern China was hit by a series of large quakes.

      This temblor in Southern Qinghai occurred at 11:04 a.m. today (May 21) Vancouver time.

      The U.S. Geological Survey measured it as a 7.3-magnitude quake (revised from an initial 7.4 assessment), striking at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles).

      The epicentre was positioned 390 kilometres (242 miles) southwest of Xining, Qinghai; 396 kilometres (246 miles) northeast of Qamdo, Tibet; 521 kilometres (323 miles) southwest of Zhangye, Gansu; and 533 kilometres (331 miles) southwest of Lanzhou, Gansu.

      U.S. Geological Survey

      Earlier this morning, several quakes rumbled in Southwestern China as well.

      This seismic activity has ranged from 4.3- to 6.1-magnitude.

      The largest one struck at 6:48 a.m. (Vancouver time).

      The epicentre, at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles), was located 28 kilometres (18 miles) northwest of Dali, Yunnan; 125 kilometres (78 miles) south of Lijiang, Yunnan; and 191 kilometres (119 miles) southeast of Dadukou, Sichuan, in China; and 265 kilometres (165 miles) east of Myitkyina, Myanmar.

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook.

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