BEIJING - A total of 1,450 people had been evacuated from their homes in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region by 11 am Friday after the area was hit by a moderate earthquake Thursday night, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said in a statement.

About 11,300 people were affected by the 5.2-magnitude earthquake centered in the county of Shache in Kashi prefecture, which is about 1,666 km southwest of Xinjiang's capital city of Urumqi.

Nearly 290 houses collapsed while another 1,966 were damaged in the quake. So far, no casualties have been reported.

Most of the affected are residents from the counties of Shache, Zepu and Yuepuhu.

Tents and other relief materials have been transported to the quake-hit region, according to the ministry.