An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale hit the China-Kirgizstan border Wednesday, the seismological network in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region said.

The quake hit at around 8:29 am with its epicenter at 73.4 degrees east and 39.5 degrees north, putting it about 150 km southwest of Oqar County in the Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Kizilsu, the network said.

The tremor was clearly felt in at least three villages of Oqar County, said a local government spokesman, who added there had been no reports of casualties.

Oqar County is 1,500 km from the regional capital Urumqi.

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2009)