A magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit Mongolian-Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Haixi in the west of northwest China's Qinghai Province early Monday morning.

The quake struck at 1:56 AM at 33.2 degrees north latitude and 92.2 degrees east longitude. The quake area, which is around 5,000 meters above sea level, is sparsely populated.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2008)