M-6.6 earthquake strikes NW China's Xinjiang

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake jolted northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Wednesday, according to China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The earthquake struck at 7:27 a.m. with a depth of 11 kilometers. The epicenter was monitored at 44.27 degrees north latitude, 82.89 degrees east longitude near Jinghe River of Xinjiang's Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture.

A level-2 emergency response mechanism and emergency operation has been activated, Xinjiang's seismological bureau said in a statement on Wednesday.

The epicenter is 37 kilometers south of Jinghe county and there are no villages withing 5 kilometers to the epicenter, according to

China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

So far there have been no reports of casualties or damage.

(CGTN)