An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Nyingchi prefecture of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region at 17:03 hours (Beijing Time) on Monday, according to Chinese seismological observatories.

The quake occurred around Medog, Bomi, Nyingchi, Zayu, Mainling counties and Bayi Township, with the epicenter at 28 degrees 36 minutes north latitude and 95 degrees 36 minutes east longitude, said the sources.

By press time, aftershocks are still felt in the above-mentioned areas.

According to scattered reports from Nyingchi prefecture, there are evident cracks on some office buildings and damages done to warehouses in Bomi and Medog, but no casualties have been reported thus far.

Casualties or damages brought by the quake are being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2003)