No casualties reported after 5.0-magnitude quake jolts Xinjiang

URUMQI -- No casualties have been reported after a 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Thursday, local authorities said.

The earthquake hit Kuqa City in Aksu Prefecture of Xinjiang at 7:38 am Thursday (Beijing Time). The epicenter was monitored at 40.92 degrees north latitude and 83.97 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 15 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

No townships or villages are located within 50 km from the epicenter. Rescuers and emergency response personnel were sent to the area affected by the quake.

No damages of property or key cultural relics have been reported, according to local authorities.