The epicenter (Credit: Google)
A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 has struck a lake along the Russia-Mongolia border, seismologists say. Only few details are currently available.
The earthquake, which struck at 5:33 a.m. local time on Tuesday, was centered in Lake Khövsgöl in northern Mongolia, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from the border with Russia, or 288 km (179 mi) southwest of Irkutsk.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8, making it one of the strongest earthquake to ever hit the region around the lake. It struck at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers (6 miles).
The area is not heavily populated but is home to a number of villages near the lake, including Hatgal and Turt, which have a combined population of up to 5,000 people. Details about possible damage or casualties were not immediately known.
A strong 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck just north of Lake Khövsgöl in April 1950, causing damage in nearby villages.More recently, in December 1991, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck to the west of the lake.
If you felt the earthquake, let us know where you are and what you experienced by sending us an email: tips@bnonews.com
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Source: https://bnonews.com/index.php/2021/01/strong-earthquake-hits-russia-mongolia-border/
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