Tremors felt in Xinjiang, no casualties reported

Tremors were felt in the southern parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Sunday after a 6.7-magnitude quake hit Kyrgyzstan, but no casualties were reported so far.

The quake struck at 7:17 p.m. Sunday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter was monitored at 39.43 degrees north latitude and 73.40 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 10 kilometers.

"The tremors lasted for more than a minute. Almost everyone in the neighborhood ran downstairs and the courtyard was soon crowded with people," said Muradin Muhammat Turdi, a resident in Wuqia County, Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu.

The county is close to the epicenter.

Turdi said he was surfing the web when the quake struck. "The computer screen shook violently. I hid myself in a corner of the bathroom for a moment, but as the tremors continued, I ran downstairs."

"I felt dizzy for a few seconds," said Feng Zhuoyi, a village official in the outskirts of Kashgar City, about 200 km from Kyrgyzstan.

Feng was in her office when the quake struck. "The villagers yelled for me to leave my office immediately. But tremors were felt clearly even in the open space outside the office building."

Two passenger trains were suspended in Xinjiang as railway authorities checked the tracks, power and communication equipment for safety considerations, the local railway bureau said in a statement.

A commodity fair in Kashgar City, attended by hundreds of traders from China and neighboring countries including Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, was unaffected as the exhibition halls had been closed at least an hour before the quake.

"We have not received any reports yet concerning casualties, home damages or property losses," said Huang Tiejun, chief of the seismological bureau in Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu. "We are closely watching the situation and fire brigades are standing by for rescue."

Kyrgyzstan borders Xinjiang's Kizilsu and Aksu prefectures.
Source:XINHUA