An isolated mountainous area of Tibet was struck by a moderate earthquake early Friday morning, according to the local seismological bureau.

The quake, measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale, jolted Motuo County of Linzhi region in southeastern Tibet at 3:21 AM. There have been no reports of casualties, according to Guo Quanxing, deputy head with the bureau.

The population in the tremor-plagued county, the only one in China without road services due to blocking high mountains, is nearly 10,000.

The area has a history of seismic disruption. It was hit by a quake measuring 8.6 on the Richter scale in 1950, the worst record in China.

Guo said the bureau and local government will work together to monitor the situation.

A further two earthquakes, measuring 6.9 and 6.0 on the Richter scale, struck another sparsely populated county in Ngari Prefecture of western Tibet on January 9 and 16 respectively. No loss of life has been reported.

However, many houses collapsed or were damaged in the two separate natural disasters. Initial investigation has put the economic loss at several million yuan.

Tents, quilts and clothes have been allocated to people affected by the quakes.

The region has experienced more than 20 after-shocks with magnitudes of over 3 as of Thursday, and more moderate tremors are expected to last for up to three months, Guo said.

Tibet is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in China. Since 1900, the region has suffered more than 600 quakes with magnitudes of over 5.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2008)