No casualties reported in North West China earthquake

No casualties have been reported after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake hit a county in northwest China's Qinghai Province on Monday morning, local authorities said.

The earthquake struck the Qilian County of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai at 5:02 a.m. Monday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The epicenter, located at the Arik Township, was monitored at 38.0 degrees north latitude and 100.4 degrees east longitude. The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers.

Many people living in the county seat of Qilian have stayed outdoors after feeling strong jolt, according to the local publicity department.

So far, no casualties have been reported. The county has sent a team to the epicenter to learn the damage after the quake.

Qilian County is located at the middle section of the Qilian Mountains with an average altitude of 3,100 meters. Having a population of about 50,000, it is a major tourist and livestock farming-based county in Qianghai.