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3.8-magnitude earthquake jolts SE China
By Hu Meidong and Wang Lu (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-23 20:41

Fuzhou: An earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter Scale jolted the Pingtan sea area, Fujian province at 10:08 a.m. Monday, according to Fujian's seismological network.

The epicenter was located at 25.42 degrees north latitude and 119.9 degrees east longitude of the Pingtan sea area, in southeast China’s Fujian province.

There was no reports of casualties, but property loss and building collapses were been reported.

"Seismic experts reached the agreement that this earthquake will not affect residents' normal life and work," according to Wang Fucheng, director of the office of Fujian's seismological network.

Liu Yongqiang, a student from Fujian Normal University, said the tremor lasted only 5 seconds. "I didn't feel an obvious tremor. We don't need to be too sensitive about it because the occurrences of small earthquake is very often", said Mr. Chen from Fuzhou University.

The earthquake was caused by the sudden movement of the earth’s plate, a normal phenomenon caused by the release of accumulated strain.

China Daily Fujian Bureau