URUMQI, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A 7.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Wushi County in Aksu Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 2:09 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The epicenter, with a depth of 22 km, was monitored at 41.26 degrees north latitude and 78.63 degrees east longitude, said the CENC.

The main quake was followed by a succession of aftershocks as strong as 5.3 in magnitude, according to the CENC.

Preliminary report indicates that the epicenter was situated in a township in Wushi County within the mountainous border area between China and Kyrgyzstan.

No casualties have been reported so far.

The quakes were felt strongly in the Aksu area. A local resident surnamed Liu told Xinhua that many people rushed to open space for safety, in spite of around 10 degrees below zero in wee hours.

The earthquake was also felt in various cities and prefectures across Xinjiang, including Urumqi, Hotan, and Kashgar. Residents in the regional capital Urumqi reported feeling the shaking even on the 17th floor. Enditem

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