URUMQI, Dec. 1 -- No casualties have been reported so far after a 5.3-magnitude earthquake hit northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Sunday afternoon, local authorities said.

The quake jolted Keping County in southern Xinjiang's Aksu prefecture at 4:34 p.m., according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter, with a depth of 9 km, was at 40.3 degrees north latitude and 79.0 degrees east longitude, the center said in a statement.

The quake was felt by some local residents.

Officials with the local seismological bureau are going to the county. Further verification of the impact is under way.