5.3-magnitude quake hits China's Xinjiang region

BEIJING: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale today hit northwest China's Xinjiang region.

The quake with a depth of 5 kilometer hit the Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture at 5:18 am (local time), China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) said.

The epicenter of the quake was in Luntai County and was monitored at 42.19 degrees north latitude and 84.12 degrees east longitude, CENC reported.

No casualties have been reported so far, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Xinjiang Earthquake Administration has sent a team of seven people to Luntai County.

Authorities in Luntai would continue gathering information about casualties and property loss, a local official said.