China: Earthquake damage in Xinjiang today is limited to some homes, officials say, and there have been no casualties reported. However, the quake measured a strong 6.9 magnitude according to the U.S. Geological Survey and several strong aftershocks continued for at least two hours afterward.

An earthquake in the same area in 2008 caused significant damage to several homes with some even collapsing, but the worst event in China in several years was the Sichuan quake in 2008, which measured a 7.9 and caused about 90,000 casualties and devastated the province.

China’s Earthquake Networks Centre says Xinjiang’s quake was actually closer to a 7.3 magnitude; luckily, the area is sparsely populated.

“We were at the office at the time and felt strong shaking, the windows were rattling,” a reporter in Keriya county said.

China is often at risk for strong earthquakes, especially in the more mountainous areas.

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