The earthquake that hit southwest China's Yunnan
Province has killed five and injured 52 others by 7p.m.
Saturday.
Some 435 houses collapsed and 5,988 others were damaged by the
quake in the populated villages of Zhaoyang District in Zhaotong
City, said Vice Mayor Suo Fei.
The quake did not cause any collapses in Ludian County but many
houses were in danger, especially the school buildings, said acting
county magistrate Yin Guiyou.
Rescue teams led by provincial official Li Weijun have rushed to
the area. All the injured have been given treatment.
Measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the quake jolted Ludian
County and the nearby Zhaoyang District of Zhaotong City in
southwest China's Yunnan Province at 2:49 a.m. Saturday, according
to the State Seismological Bureau.
The epicenter of the quake is located at 27.2 degrees north
latitude, 103.6 degrees east longitude, some 255 kilometers north
of the province's capital Kunming.
Ludian County and Zhaoyang District are among the country's
poorest areas and are under the state support. Ludian has a
population of 370,000 and Zhaoyang has 760,000. The farmers' annual
average income is only 960 and 1,100 yuan (US$117 and 134)
respectively.
It was the third earthquake to hit Yunnan during the past five
months. An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit the
province on July 21, killing 16, and the other occurred on Oct. 26,
killing three.
(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2003)