No casualties in Xinjiang quake

This screenshot from the official microblog of China Earthquake Networks Center shows the epicenter of a 7.3-magnitude earthquake that stroke Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Feb 12,2014.

URUMQI - No casualties are reported in a 7.3magnitude earthquake that hit Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region Wednesday afternoon, according to local authorities.

The quake struck Yutian County in the prefecture of Hotan at 5:19 p.m. Wednesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The quake was felt strongly by residents in Hotan, Yutian and Moyu.

No casualties were reported as of 6 pm. The epicenter is in a sparsely populated, high altitude area. An earthquake of similar size struck the same area in 2008, causing no injuries or damage.

More than 20 professionals will be dispatched to the spot.

A 5.4-magnitude quake has hit the same place one day earlier.