An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale jolted Xigaze
Prefecture in southwest China's Tibet
Autonomous Region at 4:04 AM today, according to seismological
observatories.
No reports of casualties or the extent of the damage have yet
been received, according to local government sources.
The quake occurred in the southwest of the region between
Zhongba County and the Ngari Prefecture.
The epicenter was 30.5 degrees latitude north and 83.7 degrees
longitude east, about 110 kilometers from the border with Nepal and
670 kilometers from Lhasa, the regional capital, according to the
China Seismological Bureau.
Local government officials said the regional seismological
bureau will dispatch a team to the quake-hit area.
An earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale also occurred
in the area on July 12, 2004.
(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2005)