Hong Kong shaken awake as 3.4-magnitude earthquake rattles city
- Hong Kong Observatory says tremor was felt at 6.55am as 1,200 people report feeling quake
- Epicentre was southeast of Guishan Island near mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai
More than 1,200 people in Hong Kong felt vibrations after a magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck near the coast of Southeastern China early on Sunday morning, waking some people from their sleep.
The Hong Kong Observatory said initial analysis indicated the quake had taken place at 6.55am, while the China Earthquake Networks Centre measured the quake at 3.5.
“The epicentre was located near 22.08N, 113.86E, about 41 kilometres southwest of the Hong Kong Observatory [in Tsim Sha Tsui],” the observatory said on its website, placing the epicentre southeast of Guishan Island.
“Initial estimates gave a local intensity of four on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, that is hanging objects swing. Windows, dishes, doors rattle,” the observatory added.
It was the second time in as many months that an earthquake has been felt in Hong Kong. Last month, an earthquake measuring 1.4 rumbled the city, with the epicentre near the outlying island of Cheung Chau.
Then, locals reported the feeling as being the same as a light truck passing, with the observatory saying the quake lasted a few seconds.