The recent number of earthquakes above 7-magnitude in 2010, though slightly more than average, was still within normal scope, said the China Earthquake Administration Monday.

The administration cited that the frequency of the quakes were uneven. "It is a normal phenomenon of earth movement," it said.

Some panicked netizens linked the recent spate of earthquakes to Doomsday Day as depicted by Hollywood disaster film "2012" shown in 2009.

China is an earthquake-prone country, witnessing a total of 145 quakes on average on the mainland each year, with 20 quakes above 5 magnitude.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2010)