M5.5 quake kills 9 in far western China's Xinjiang

A moderate but shallow earthquake struck a remote area in far western China on Thursday morning killing eight people and injuring at least 23 others, including one seriously, the China Earthquake Administration said.About 180 houses, mostly built of wood and mudbricks, collapsed after the magnitude 5.5 quake struck Taxkorgan county in Xinjiang, bordering Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, it said.As of 12:30 p.m. local time, the Xinjiang seismological bureau recorded 102 aftershocks following the 5:58 a.m. quake.The administration activated emergency response procedures and search and re…READ FULL ARTICLE