7.1-magnitude quake hits Northwest China's Xinjiang

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Wushi County in Aksu Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur 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.　

The quakes were felt strongly in the Aksu area.　A local resident told China News Service that many people rushed to open space for safety.　

(Reported by Li Mingfei;　Edited by Ma Yuxuan)