SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck a small fishing region in South Korea’s southwestern region on Wednesday, but local officials said that there were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.
The earthquake, which had an estimated depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles), was the strongest recorded in South Korea this year.
Jo Hae-jin, an official with the North Joelle Province Fire Department, said officials received nearly 80 calls from residents who felt the shaking. She said officials have confirmed three minor cases of property damage in Buan so far Wednesday morning, including a broken wall in a warehouse, a broken window and broken wall tiles in two different houses.
South Korea’s weather agency said people may have felt the earthquake in the southwestern region of North Jeolla province.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo, the country’s No. 2 official behind President Yoon Suk Yeol, called an emergency meeting where he instructed officials to guard against the possibility of aftershocks and make preparations to safely evacuate residents and protect of important infrastructure such as electricity supply. factories and transport networks.
