BEIJING, Feb. 21 -- China's central government has provided 110 million yuan (18 million U.S. dollars) for relief work in quake-hit Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Ministry of Finance said Friday.

The funds will be used for disaster relief, relocations, medical treatment and infrastructure reconstruction, the ministry said.

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Xinjiang's Hotan Prefecture on Feb. 12, causing the relocation of some 80,000 people.

As the vast majority of rural residents in the area are living in quake-resistant buildings, the tremor was less destructive than expected. No casualties have been reported.