UPDATE - 8 killed in 5.5-magnitude quake in northern China

UPDATES WITH FRESH CASUALTY NUMBERS, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Fuat Kabakci

BEIJING (AA) - Eight people died and 23 were injured when a 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit northern China on Thursday, state media reported.

Xinhua news agency said the quake hit Taxkorgan County in northwest China’s Xinjiang region at a depth of 8 kilometers (5 miles).

Locals experienced several aftershocks following the tremor, the agency reported.

The earthquake also destroyed more than 1,500 homes and killed around 800 animals. More than 9,000 people were evacuated from the region.