Guangxi's Liuzhou Hit by Second Strong Quake with Identical Magnitude and Depth on Same Day

(CNA, Taipei, 18th) Following a shallow, strong earthquake of magnitude 5.2 at 0:21 AM today in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China, another shallow, strong quake of the same 5.2 magnitude occurred tonight at 9:44 PM. The focal depth of both earthquakes was identically shallow at only 8 kilometers, and their epicenters were extremely close. According to official reports, the early morning earthquake has already caused at least 2 deaths, 1 injury, and damage to 58 homes. According to information released by the China Earthquake Networks Center, the epicenter of tonight's quake was at 24.37 degrees North latitude and 109.26 degrees East longitude. The epicenter of the early morning quake was at 24.38 degrees North latitude and 109.26 degrees East longitude, making the two locations extremely close. As for whether tonight's earthquake has caused further disaster, there has been no official report from Chinese authorities yet. According to data released by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Emergency Management Department, as of noon today, the strong earthquake in Liuzhou this morning had already caused 2 deaths and 1 injury. Incomplete statistics show that the morning quake caused varying degrees of damage to a total of 58 houses. Additionally, a section of the Liuzhou ring expressway near the epicenter has been completely cut off due to a landslide caused by the earthquake and is currently closed. After the morning quake in Liuzhou, the Office of the State Council's Earthquake Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management have activated a Level-IV national emergency response for the earthquake and dispatched a working group to rush to the area to guide relief efforts. (Editors: Chiu Kuo-chiang / Tang Sheng-yang) 1150518