An elderly person was reported dead following the 5.1-magnitude
earthquake that hit Lindian County in northeast China's Heilongjiang
Province at 11:43 PM on Monday. 12 others have been injured and
about 1,100 homes damaged, the province's seismological bureau
reported.
About 2,500 people in the area have been evacuated.
The deceased was an 81-year-old man who had a stroke.
No serious damage was reported at the nearby Daqing Oilfield,
China's largest oil-producing base.
The seismological bureau placed the epicenter 10 kilometers below
the earth's surface.
"At least 30 aftershocks were reported through to the later part of
the morning," said Zheng Jilie, head of the seismological
bureau.
"We've been keeping an eye on the potential for an earthquake in
Daqing for years, but our technology is incapable of predicting
where and when such a quake will occur."
Shock waves were felt as far away as Harbin, the provincial
capital, about 180 kilometers to the east.
By last night, about 2,540 people had been evacuated from the most
affected areas, a source for the Ministry of Civil Affairs
said.
About 1,140 roofs collapsed or were damaged in the disaster's worst
hit areas including Huayuan Township, the source said.
About 100 tents have been sent to house those rendered
homeless.
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(China Daily July 27, 2005)
