Earthquake measuring 5.5 hits China; at least 8 killed, 20 injured

A moderate earthquake of 5.5 magnitude hit western China on Thursday, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 20, the region's earthquake administration said.

The quake struck Taxkorgan county on Thursday morning. The remote mountainous area borders Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan in China's Xinjiang region.

More than 180 houses have reportedly collapsed in the lightly populated area, according to the Xinjiang Earthquake Administration, the Associated Press reported.

The United States Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (6 miles) at 5.58 am on Thursday (21:58 GMT Wednesday).

The quake reportedly hit very close to the earth's surface, causing more shaking at the surface.

The county reportedly has a population of around 33,000. The region is a key stop on the  Karakoram Highway, built along the ancient Silk Road connecting China's far western city of Kashgar to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad.

The region faced frequent aftershocks since morning. Search and rescue operation is currently underway.

An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale had hit western China in 2013, killing at least 268 people. China's deadliest earthquake recorded 7.9 magnitude with a depth of 19 kilometres (12 miles). The massive quake had hit Sichuan province in May 2008, killing almost 90,000 people.