A 5.5-magnitude earthquake jolted northwest China's Qinghai Province at 6:04 PM on Tuesday, according to the China National Earthquake Network Center.

The quake struck the Tanggula Range within the Haixi Prefecture of Qinghai, with the epicenter at 33.2 degrees north latitude and 91.9 degrees east longitude, the center said.

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

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2008)