An earthquake measuring 5.3 to 5.7 magnitude hit the Caspian Sea region near Azerbaijan, local media reported early on July 4. The Trend news agency quoted the Republican Seismological Service Center under the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan as saying the earthquake occurred just after midnight near the capital, Baku, and was felt throughout the country. Russia's TASS news agency, citing the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center, said the epicenter was 43 kilometers northeast of the city of Khachmaz, a city of 37,100 people. No other information was immediately available. The U.S. Geological Survey rated the earthquake at magnitude 5.4. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, click here.
