Two earthquakes hit South Korea with magnitudes of 5.8 and 5.1

World Today

South Korea EarthquakeAn officer from the Korea Meteorological Administration briefs about an earthquake at the at the National Earthquake and Volcano Center of the Korea Meteorological Administration in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Officials say two earthquakes measuring magnitude 5.1 and 5.8 have jolted an historic city in southeastern South Korea, but there are no reports of serious injuries or damage. (Sun Dong-jin/Yonhap via AP)

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 jolted southeastern South Korea, the biggest-ever striking the country, about an hour after a 5.1-magnitude tremor occurred, local media outlets reported on Monday, citing the country’s weather agency.

The 5.1-magnitude tremor struck on the outskirts of Gyeongju city in North Gyeongsang province at 7:44 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located about nine km (5.5 miles) southwest of the city.

The second tremor with a magnitude of 5.8 struck the nearby region, just 1.4 km (under one mile) away from the first epicenter, at 8:32 p.m. local time.

It was the country’s biggest-ever quake, surpassing the previous strongest tremor that happened in January 1980.

The tremor was felt nationwide from adjacent cities of Ulsan and Busan to as far north as capital Seoul and far south as the southern resort island of Jeju.

There has been no damage reported yet, the Ministry of Public Safety and Security was quoted as saying.

Story by The Associated Press and Xinhua