7.1 earthquake strikes western China, but no casualties reported yet from sparsely populated area

BEIJING (AP) — A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck a sparsely populated part of China’s western Xinjiang region, but no casualties have been reported. State media and local authorities said the quake early Tuesday morning destroyed two houses and knocked out power, which was quickly restored. The epicenter was in Uchturpan county, also called Wushi county, in Aksu prefecture. Aksu authorities said around 200 emergency workers were sent to the mountainous area. Railway authorities suspended dozens of trains to make safety checks before service resumed. Tremors were felt across Xinjiang and in neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Russian media said people fled their homes in the Kazakh capital when they felt the shaking.