Earthquake Hits Kazakh Commercial Capital

Almaty, 15 February 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Residents of Kazakhstan's commercial capital Almaty were awakened early this morning to an earthquake of a magnitude of 4-4.5.

The Kazakh Emergencies Ministry said that there were no reports of casualties or serious structural damage in the city.

The ministry said the earthquake's epicenter was located in Kyrgyzstan's Sarydzhaz mountain range, some 255 kilometers from Almaty.

(with additional reporting by Interfax-Kazakhstan)