URUMQI-- A preliminary check has found one person dead after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake jolted Akto County, Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

A villager in the county died due to house collapse. Six houses were found cracked or collapsed, local authorities said.

The Akto county government said the epicenter is in cold highland areas that are sparsely populated.

The China Earthquake Administration has activated a level-III emergency response and sent work team to the quake-hit area. An emergency response was also initiated by the regional seismological bureau.