URUMQI - The powerful quake which struck northern Afghanistan on Monday was also strongly felt in parts of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Residents of Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu and Kizilsu, all in southern Xinjiang, said they felt the quake and many ran out of their homes.

But there have been no reports of casualties or collapsed houses in Xinjiang, said the fire service in these affected areas.

"First, we felt a minor quake and then a strong one. People rushed out of their buildings to open ground," said Kashgar resident Feng Zhuoyi.

She said she felt dizzy when the quake struck. Lamps and chairs in her office were shaking.

Firefighting forces in Kizilsu stand ready to carry out relief work in case of any damage.

The China Earthquake Networks Center registered a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hitting the Hindu Kush mountains of Afghanistan at 5:09:32 p.m. Beijing time on Monday.

It has reportedly left dozens dead and hundreds injured in Pakistan and Afghanistan.