Eva Deschamps / February 24, 2023
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck eastern Tajikistan on Thursday, the USGS said.
The earthquake occurred around 5:37 amlocal time at a depth of about 20.5 kilometers.
The USGS estimated that "few or no residents" will be exposed to landslides from the earthquake.
Its epicenter appears to be in Gorno-Badakhshan, a semi-autonomous region in the east bordering Afghanistan and China.
An aftershock of magnitude 5.0 shook the region about 20 minutes after the initial quake.
This sparsely populated territory is surrounded by towering Pamir Mountains and is home to Lake Sarez. The aquamarine-colored body of water, formed after an earthquake in 1911, is one of the largest lakes in Tajikistan. Behind Lake Sarez, in the heart of the Pamir Mountains, is a natural dam, and experts have warned that the consequences would be catastrophic if it were breached.
Tajikistan - like much of Central Asia - is very prone to natural disasters and frequently experiences floods, earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and heavy snowfall.