CHINA> Regional
5.0-magnitude earthquake jolts NW China
(xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-25 13:02

URUMQI -- An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale jolted northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 9:47 a.m. Sunday, according to the state earthquake authority.

Related readings:
 Wen visits medics and injured in quake zone
 Premier spending Lunar New Year Eve in quake-hit Sichuan
 Quake zone residents welcome Lunar New Year
 More help on way for quake-hit Sichuan

The earthquake occurred in Xibe Autonomous County of Qapqal, 700 kilometers from the regional capital Urumqi. The epicenter was at 43.3 degrees north latitude and 80.9 degrees east longitude at a depth of 10 kilometers, the China Earthquake Administration said Sunday.

The casualties are yet to be known.

Last year a 8.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China left more than 69,000 people dead and 374,000 injured. Another 18,000 are missing and millions were left homeless.