5.1-magnitude quake jolts Urumqi

0

URUMQI: A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, at 01:27 p.m. Friday Beijing Time, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, Xinhua reported.

The epicenter, with a depth of 12 km, was monitored at 43.8 degrees north latitude and 87.6 degrees east longitude, the center said.

“I was buying shawls at the International Grand Bazaar and saw people rushing out of it crazily. I ran after them and felt the quake,” said a tourist surnamed Cao.

He added that people calmed down afterwards and were heading back to the bazaar.

The quake was also felt by residents living in Tianshan District of downtown Urumqi. A resident surnamed He said he saw children and the elderly staying outdoors as they were afraid to go back into the buildings.