earthquake, Afghanistan
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Nearly two dozen earthquakes have struck off the coast of Russia, near the Kamchatka Peninsula, in the last 24 hours, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quakes ranged in strength from 4.3 magnitude up to a 6.1 magnitude, which is considered a strong earthquake that could cause damage in populated areas.
A small earthquake shook up part of New Jersey on the afternoon of Oct. 20, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. This marks the state's first quake since August.
Indonesia lies strategically between the Asian and Australian continents along the boundary of the Pacific Ocean. This area forms part of the well-known “Ring of Fire,” a major seismic zone responsible for around 90 percent of global earthquakes and nearly three-quarters of all volcanic eruptions.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake was recorded in the Beaus region on Monday morning, according to seismic data reviewed manually by authorities. The quake struck at 7:38 a.m. local time (12:38 UTC) at a shallow depth of less than 30 kilometers, centered at latitude 16.54°N and longitude 59.49°W.
Hemmed in by rugged mountains, Afghanistan is prone to a range of natural disasters, but its earthquakes cause the most fatalities, killing about 560 people on average each year and causing annual damages estimated at $80 million. Studies indicate at least 355 earthquakes with a magnitude higher than 5.0 have hit Afghanistan since 1990.
A preliminary magnitude 3.0 earthquake was recorded north of Borrego Springs Wednesday night, according to USGS.