Experts say more seismic activity could still come

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Experts have warned that more earthquakes of magnitude 5 or 6 may strike Northeast China in the near future.

"The whole area is unstable because a massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake in Japan in 1999 caused large-scale movement of the lithosphere, or the earth's rigid surface, according to our observation," Liu Jie, director of the China Earthquake Networks Center, told China Daily on Sunday.

"In the coming one or two years, Northeast China - including Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang -and eastern parts of Inner Mongolia are expected to have an increasingly frequent earthquakes until the stability of the region's crusts recovers," Liu said.

He said local authorities should fully prepare for the potential risks.

However, Liu said although there might be frequent earthquakes in Northeast China, there is no sign a massive earthquake above magnitude-6.0 is likely to happen.

According to the China Earthquake Administration, as of Sunday afternoon, 426 quakes had been recorded in Songyuan since a magnitude-5.5 earthquake hit the region on Oct 31.

Of the recorded quakes, Songyuan had five at magnitudes 5.0 to 5.9, including a magnitude-5.8 quake on Saturday, according to the administration.

The Jilin provincial government issued a third-level disaster emergency response, and earthquake experts were keeping close watch on geological data, such as geomagnetic readings.

China is an earthquake-prone country with activities mainly taking place in 23 seismic belts across the country.

The latest quake, of magnitude 5.6, happened at 7:30 am on Sunday in Beyinguoleng Mongolian autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

No casualties were reported as the epicenter was a mountainous area with few inhabitants.

Questions:

1. Where in China have experts warned that more earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 or 6 could strike?

2. Who is the director of the China Earthquake Networks Center?

3. How many earthquakes have been recorded in Songyuan since October 31st?

Answers:

1. Northeast China.

2. Liu Jie.

3. 426.

About the broadcaster:

Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.