An earthquake measuring about 5.4 on the Richter scale hit the Chinese city of Wuzhou — about 340 kilometres northwest of Hong Kong — at 5:18pm yesterday.
Within two hours of the quake, the Hong Kong Observatory had received 470 reports from residents who said they felt tremors.
Using personal accounts, the Observatory estimated that the impact was weak in Hong, measuring only three on the 12-point Mercalli Intensity Scale, which gauges the observed effects of an earthquake (as opposed to the Richter scale, which measures magnitude).
A number three on the Mercalli scale means the effects were felt only indoors, especially on higher floors. Vibrations are of a similar intensity to those of a passing truck, while observers may not recognise the effects as an earthquake.
No injuries related to the tremors were reported in Hong Kong.
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