4.6-magnitude quake hits Xinjiang, no casualties reported

URUMQI, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) — No casualties have been reported after a 4.6-magnitude earthquake jolted northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Tuesday, local firefighting authorities have said.
The earthquake hit the Dabancheng District of Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang, at 4:33 p.m. (Beijing Time). The epicenter was monitored at 43.72 degrees north latitude and 88.26 degrees east longitude with a depth of 32 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.
The epicenter was 51 km from the urban area of Urumqi, the center said.
Strong tremors were felt in Urumqi, according to a local resident who spoke to Xinhua.
Rescue workers and emergency response personnel have been dispatched to the affected area. Local authorities have confirmed that there have been no reports of casualties or collapsed houses as of 5:20 p.m. Tuesday. ■