Moderate quake shakes Xinjiang, Tibet in China

BEIJING: A moderate earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale today struck China's northwest Xinjiang region and Tibet provinces.

The quake hit Amdo County in Tibet Autonomous Region at a depth of 10 kilometers at around 4:34 am (local time), China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC) said.

The same earthquake with an epicenter in Luntai County struck the Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang at 5:18 am (local time), it said.

The quake was strongly felt in the county, but no casualties have been reported so far, according to the county government, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The Qinghai-Tibet railway was not affected.

Amdo, situated in the north of Tibet and 4,500 meters above sea level, lies on an earthquake-prone belt.

It is 330 kilometers away from Lhasa, the regional capital.

No casualties have been reported yet, 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.