Urumqi, April 11 (Xinhua) — According to an official determination by the China Earthquake Networks Center, at 22:56 on April 10, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Baicheng County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang (41.98 degrees north latitude, 82.56 degrees east longitude), with a focal depth of 16 kilometers.

It is understood that the township closest to the epicenter is Kezil Township in Baicheng County, about 60 kilometers from the Baicheng county seat, where the tremor was distinctly felt.

After the earthquake, the advance team of the Baicheng County Brigade of the Aksu Prefecture Fire and Rescue Detachment — 2 vehicles and 10 personnel — rushed to the scene. One light earthquake rescue team of the Aksu Prefecture Fire and Rescue Detachment (11 vehicles, 60 personnel and 3 dogs) and earthquake rescue advance teams from other brigades (18 vehicles and 90 personnel) have assembled at their camps and are ready for rescue operations.

Staff of the Publicity Department of the Aksu Prefecture Party Committee said that relevant departments in Baicheng County, including health, water resources and education, have dispatched personnel to the epicenter to conduct inspections.

It is understood that after the earthquake, the Xinjiang Fire and Rescue Corps immediately activated its earthquake disaster response mechanism and assembled 2 heavy teams, 5 light teams and 8 mobile teams — a total of 153 vehicles, 650 personnel and 32 dogs — standing by at their camps and ready to provide reinforcement at any time.

Through reports from earthquake rapid-reporters, verification by township liaison officers and information feedback from earthquake departments, as of 23:55 on the 10th, no related emergency calls or reports of house collapses had been received.