2008-10-11

    LHASA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake followed by some 1,000
aftershocks has affected more than 60,000 people in the Tibet Autonomous
Region this week, the local government said in a news conference Saturday.

    Since Monday's 6.6-magnitude quake struck Damxung County in Lhasa,
more than 1,000 aftershocks have been monitored, including one that
measured 5.4 on the Richter scale, said Gong Puguang, vice president of
the regional government.

    61,231 people in the region's capital have been affected and 989
houses collapsed, said Gong.

    More than 4,800 people have been relocated out of the quake zone.

    The quake-hit areas include Lhasa, Xigaze and Shannan regions, where
28 km of road and 11 bridges were damaged.

    So far, ten people have been confirmed dead. 54 others sustained
injuries, one third of those injuries are serious.

    The central government allocated 10 million yuan (1.46 million U.S.
dollars), 11,000 tents, quilts, and other quake relief materials to the
affected area.

    The items were being distributed as traffic and telecommunication
resumed in the area.

    The local government is evaluating economic losses from the disaster.

    Seismologists predict more aftershocks will hit the county but the
force is unlikely to exceed 5.5 on the Richter scale.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites