A powerful earthquake of 6.2 magnitude followed by more than 140 aftershocks today forced panicked residents in northwest China to remain outdoors for hours as schools and other structures shook violently.
There were no reports of casualties however.
The earthquake struck Hutubi County, a sparsely-populated region at an altitude of 1,500 metres, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region this afternoon at a depth of six kilometres.
It was felt strongly in Urumqi, the regional capital. The quake was followed by more than 140 aftershocks, including six measuring between 3 and 3.9 magnitude, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Schools were evacuated in affected areas and some had classes suspended.
"The building was shaking and the lamp in my home looked it would fall. The balcony door shook open," said Wang Guiqin, a Hutubi resident.
Liu Xingguo said he was in his yard when the quake struck and felt the ground shaking. A reporter in Urumqi said his office building shook for more than 10 seconds.
Cracks appeared in several houses and some chimneys fell in Sangong Township of neighbouring Manas County.
Damage to properties was however limited as more than 70 per cent houses in Hutubi and neighbouring regions of Manas and Shihezi are earthquake-proof properties, the report said.
Meanwhile, 24 trains have been affected by the quake as authorities suspended services out of safety concerns. A safety check has been conducted on railway facilities between Urumqi and Kuytun, according to the Urumqi Railway Bureau.
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