A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit eastern Tajikistan on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said.
\nAccording to international media reports, the quake struck around 5:37 am local time (0037 GMT) at a depth of about 20.5 kilometres (12.7 miles).
\nThe USGS estimated that \u201clittle or no population\u201d would be exposed to landslides from the quake.
\nIts epicentre appeared to be in Gorno-Badakhshan, a semi-autonomous eastern region that borders Afghanistan and China, about 67 kilometres from the small mountain town of Murghob.
\nA 5.0-magnitude aftershock hit the area about 20 minutes after the initial quake, followed by a 4.6-magnitude quake.
\nThe sparsely populated territory is surrounded by the towering Pamir Mountains and is home to Lake Sarez.
\nThe aquamarine-coloured body of water \u2013 formed as a result of an earthquake in 1911 \u2013 is among Tajikistan\u2019s largest lakes.
\nLocated behind Lake Sarez is a natural dam deep in the Pamir mountains, and experts have warned the consequences will be catastrophic if the dam is breached.
\nTajikistan \u2013 like much of the rest of Central Asia \u2013 is highly prone to natural disasters and has a long history of floods, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and heavy snowfalls.
\nEarlier this month, nine people died in a February 15 avalanche in Gorno-Badakhshan, while another person was killed the same day in an avalanche on a highway near the capital Dushanbe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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