Two separate small earthquakes hit Tangshan, a northern Chinese city which experienced a strong earthquake 30 years ago that killed 240,000 people.

 

The two earthquakes occured Wednesday night in this city, some 200 kilometers east of Beijing, according to the official website of the seismological network of China.

 

The first quake, measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale, jolted Tangshan in Hebei Province at about 9:53 PM on Wednesday, with the epicenter being located at 39.7 north latitude and 118.5 east longitude, said a statement of the website.

 

The quake was followed by another one, measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale at about 10:02 PM. with the epicenter being located at 39.8 north latitude and 118.4 east longitude, a separate statement said.

 

No casualties have been reported.

 

On July 28, 1976, a major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale leveled the entire city of Tangshan, killing 240,000 people and leaving 160,000 others severely injured and more than 4,000 children orphaned.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 5, 2006)