Xinjiang's quake zone hit by snowstorm

Photo taken on April 23, 2009 shows snowstorm along the 306 highway of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 23, 2009. During the small hours of Thursday, heavy snow hit part of the quake-hit areas in Akqi, impacting on the rescuing work carried out here. On Sunday, a 5.5-magnitude quake jolted Akqi County, which affected 15,000 residents and damaged thousands of houses. No casualties were reported in the quake.(Xinhua Photo)

HALAJUN, Xinjiang, April 23 -- Xinjiang's

quake-jolted area was hit by a snowstorm Thursday, according to a Xinhua

reporter at the site.

The reporter reached Halajun Township, the nearest

town to the epicenter of the 5.0-magnitude earthquake, which hit Artux City in

northwest Uygur Autonomous Region Wednesday.

"No casualties were found in the township center and

nearby densely-populated areas. We have sent staff to check remote areas," said

Bi Guangsheng, secretary of the Township Committee of the Communist Party of

China.

Overnight sleet turned into a snowstorm Thursday

morning. Snow piled up to 40 centimeters in the mountainous area 1,400 km to the

southwest of Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi, according to the reporter.

The township official said 257 houses were damaged in

the quake, leaving 5,780 people homeless. The victims have been temporarily

sharing rooms in neighborhood houses.

"We have prepared instant noodles and mineral water for them," said Bi, calling for help for more disaster relief goods like tents, quilt and food.

Photo taken on April 23, 2009 shows snowstorm along the 306 highway of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, April 23, 2009. During the small hours of Thursday, heavy snow hit part of the quake-hit areas in Akqi, impacting on the rescuing work carried out here. On Sunday, a 5.5-magnitude quake jolted Akqi County, which affected 15,000 residents and damaged thousands of houses. No casualties were reported in the quake.(Xinhua Photo)

The temperature is about 7 degree Celsius.

The China Central Meteorological Observatory said at

6:00 a.m. Thursday, the sleet will continue in to the evening.

Artux City is the capital of the Kirgiz Autonomous

Prefecture of Kizilsu, which has a population of 484,300.

The quake struck at 5:26 p.m. and the epicenter was

at 40.1 degrees north latitude and 77.4 degrees east longitude, the Xinjiang

Seismological Network reported.

On Sunday, a 5.5-magnitude quake jolted Akqi County,

also in the prefecture, which affected 15,000 residents and damaged thousands of

houses. No casualties were reported.