China has built a seismic monitoring station at the foot of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest mountain, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, local officials said Monday.

The station, 4,255 meters above sea level, is located in Tingri County, Xigaze Prefecture, said Soiring, vice director with the regional earthquake administration.

The unmanned earthquake monitor is seen in Tingri County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2009. China's first unmanned earthquake monitor has been established and put into use at 4255 meters above sea level on Mt. Qomolangma. [Xinhua]

"It is the first seismic station built in south Xigaze, which suffers frequent seismic movements," said Soiring. "It can provide first-hand materials for scientific research, and enhance earthquake monitoring covering the Sino-Nepal border area."

Seismic measurements could be used to study the tectonic zone of the Himalayas, where Mount Qomolangma is located, Soiring said.

A technician debugs devices at the unmanned earthquake monitor in Tingri County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2009. [Xinhua]

Signals of seismic waves could be swiftly collected and transmitted to the regional and national earthquake administrations through satellite equipment, said Shang Rongbo, deputy head of the regional earthquake monitoring and forecast center.

The harsh climate at the site had halted installation of the equipment from time to time, he said.

The regional government and the China Earthquake Administration invested 1 million yuan (more than 140,000 US dollars) in the construction, which began in June, Soiring said.

Mount Qomolangma, which reaches 8,848 meters above sea level, is located on the border of China and Nepal.

The highest seismic station in China is 5,000 meters above sea level, in Shuanghu special zone, Nagqu Prefecture in Tibet, and was completed in December 2008.

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