A succession of earthquakes measuring 5.0 and 5.4 degrees on the Richter scale, respectively, shook the mountainous areas near Shihezi city, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 1:34 am (Beijing Time) on Friday.
According to the Shihezi City Seismological Bureau, the epicenter was identified as the Tianshan Mountain area where the Nanshan Cement Works of Shihezi city is located, 100 km from downtown Shihezi.
Residents in the city of Urumqi, the autonomous regional capital, also felt the fairly strong shock, said the local seismological bureau.
No casualties have so far been reported. However, some of the houses near the epicenter have visible cracks.
(eastday.com February 15, 2003)
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