8 dead in Xinjiang quake

121 aftershocks recorded by 1 pm Thursday; 10,000 people relocated

At least eight people were killed and 23 injured by a magnitude-5.5 earthquake that jolted Taxkorgan county in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Thursday morning.

The quake affected more than 12,000 people, 10,000 of whom were being relocated to safe places. The government immediately activated emergency response procedures.