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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.

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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.