Earthquake kills 8 in China’s Xinjiang — Xinhua

A star (top left) marks the epicenter of the magnitude 5.4 quake that hit the western part of China’s Xinjiang province at 5:58 a.m., Thursday, May 11, 2017. Eight people have so far been reported killed by the temblor. USGS MAP

BEIJING, China — An earthquake early Thursday killed at least eight people in a remote area of northwest China’s Xinjiang region, state media reported.

The shallow 5.4-magnitude quake struck at 5:58 am (2158 GMT Wednesday) 213 kilometers south-southwest of the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, the US Geological Survey said.

Xinhua news agency said eight people had been confirmed dead and 11 injured were sent to hospital.

The remote and sparsely populated area is close to the border with Tajikistan.

China is regularly hit by earthquakes, especially its mountainous western and southwestern regions.

In February 2003 a powerful 6.8-magnitude quake killed 268 people in Xinjiang and caused significant damage. CBB/rga