An earthquake measuring 5.5 degrees on Richter Scale hit Tibet at 2:43 Beijing Time Wednesday, according to the China Seismological Monitoring Network.

The epicenter was located at 32.4 degrees north latitude and 85.2 degrees east longitude, about 100 km to the east of Gerze in Ngari Prefecture in western Tibet.

The area has an altitude above 4,000 meters and is thinnly-populated.

Two earthquakes, measuring 6.9 degrees and 6 degrees on Richter Scale, rocked the same place on Jan. 9 and Jan. 16, respectively, but caused no casualty nor property loss.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2008)