A 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted northwest China's Qinghai at 4:12 PM on Wednesday, three hours after a 5.4-magnitude tremor rocked the province, according to the China National Seismological Network.

The quake struck the Tanggula Range, with the epicenter at 33.3 degrees north latitude and 92.1 degrees east longitude, it said.

Casualties and damages are not immediately available. The affected area, however, is sparsely populated as it is on an altitude of about 5,000 meters above sea level, according to the network.

At 1:23 PM, a 5.4 magnitude quake jolted Zhiduo County in Hol Xil Nature Reserve, some 200 kilometers away from the epicenter of the subsequent tremor.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2008)