Powerful quake rocks central Myanmar

By Kyaw Ye Lynn

YANGON, Myanmar

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit central Myanmar on Wednesday afternoon, according to the country´s department of meteorology and hydrology.

The quake struck 129 miles (208 kilometers) northwest of Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, it said in a statement.

The tremor was felt across Myanmar, including commercial capital Yangon and other major cities.

Though there were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage, local media reports said some temples in the ancient city of Bagan were slightly damaged.

The United State Geological Survey recorded the temblor as having an epicenter at a depth of 84 kilometers after 5 p.m. (10.30GMT).

It occurred a day after a magnitude 5 quake hit the Myanmar-India border.

In April, a magnitude 6.9 temblor caused serious damage to three pagodas in the central Sagaing Region, but no casualties.