A magnitude-5.1 earthquake triggered panic in Liaoning province on Wednesday, but experts rule out the possibility of a devastating quake in the region.
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No causalities were reported at the epicenter of the quake, which was located in the border area between Dengta and Shenyang, both in Liaoning province, where earthquakes are rare.
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No houses were reported to have collapsed, but cracks were spotted in some houses in Dengta, said Liu Wenlong, the city's mayor.
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The earthquake follows a magnitude-3.9 quake that hit the junction of Tongliao in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Fuxin in Liaoning on Tuesday.
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Liaoning's earthquake bureau said devastating earthquakes are unlikely to occur in the near future.
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Sun Shihong, retired chief forecaster of the China Earthquake Administration, said he does not believe Shenyang or Northeast China will enter an active seismic period.
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According to Sun, northern China experienced several earthquakes between magnitude 5 and 6 from 2000 to 2006. The region entered a relatively stable stage after that.
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Residents felt the quake on Wednesday, which lasted for about 20 seconds.
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"It's the first time I experienced such a strong earthquake," said Huang Lihua, a 40-year-old Shenyang resident who was eating lunch when the quake jolted the city.
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"Suddenly, the floor and windows were shaking and there was a buzzing sound. I was scared, although it only lasted few seconds. I never thought there would be an earthquake in Shenyang," she said.
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Many residents fled outdoors when the quake hit.
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Shenyang was the capital for the Manchu people before the establishment of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Residents believe the city is a fortunate place as it was free from major natural disasters in past centuries.
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The quake cracked some houses, interrupted telecom signals and damaged some properties in Dengta.
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Local resident Liang Manfu said the quake left a 2-meter crack in the ceiling of his house. The walls also had cracks, some as wide as a finger.
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"My TV set was broken, and I'm worried about how to fix the cracks," Liang said.
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Communication signals were interrupted for a short time in the city.
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"I tried to call my boyfriend to ask if he was safe after the quake, but I couldn't reach him," said Wang Meiyu, a resident of Shenyang whose boyfriend works in Dengta.
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"The quake is a reminder to keep emergency supplies at home and learn more about how to protect ourselves when in earthquakes," Wang said.
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The quake, however, has been positive for some - locksmiths are in hot demand, because people left their keys at home when they fled outside during the quake hit.
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"Six people asked me to help open their doors today, and that's a lot," said Guan Peng, a Shenyang locksmith.