5.3 magnitude earthquake hits Northwest China

Reuters - A 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit Ningqiang County of Hanzhong city, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, at 19:06 on Wednesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). The epicenter was monitored at 32.75 degrees north latitude and 105.69 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 11 km. The local government activated the emergency plan in time, reported to the China Earthquake Administration at the first time and sent a relief team to the area hit by the earthquake. When the earthquake happened, students at a local primary school were having night classes. Under the guidance of the faculties and staff, all the students were evacuated to the safe place without any injuries. The earthquake also was felt in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, and other cities in neighboring province Sichuan. According to the China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd, the earthquake was felt in many sections in four nearby railway lines. To ensure the normal operation of the railway, the emergency plan was conducted and many professional workers were sent to check the equipment. By 21:00 on Wednesday, several trains which operated between Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province and Xi'an were delayed. By 22:00 on Wednesday, no casualties and property losses due to the quake were reported, according to the Publicity Department of the Ningqiang County Government.