An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale hit Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 2:23 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Earthquake Network Center.

No casualties or geological disasters have been reported, said Liao Min, head of Wenchuan County.

The epicenter was located at 31.3 degrees north latitude and 103.3 degrees east longitude. It came from about 22 km underground.

A rescue team sent to Shapai Village of Caopo Township, the epicenter, reported telecommunication had been resumed as of 11 a.m., but power supplies were still cut off.

Wenchuan was the epicenter of the May 12 earthquake last year that left more than 87,000 people dead or missing.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2009)