Two fresh aftershocks hit China quake zones

Source: Xinhua | 05-27-2008 18:40

CHENGDU, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Two fresh aftershocks struck earthquake-hit areas in southwest China Tuesday afternoon, as the nationwide death toll from a massive quake two weeks ago has risen to 67,183.

A 5.4-magnitude aftershock hit Qingchuan County in Sichuan Province at about 4:03 p.m. and another 5.7-magnitude aftershock hit the neighboring Ningqiang County in Shaanxi Province, according to the China National Seismological Network.

The two aftershocks were also felt in the Sichuan provincial capital Chengdu, Shaanxi provincial capital Xi'an, and parts of neighboring Chongqing Municipality and Gansu Province.

No casualties have been reported so far.

"Many citizens rushed to streets from their homes," a resident surnamed Feng in Xi'an said.

Qingchuan was also the epicenter of a 6.4-magnitude aftershock on Sunday afternoon, which was the strongest aftershock since May 12 when an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan's Wenchuan County. At least eight people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of others injured in the aftershock.

As of Tuesday noon, the death toll from the May 12 quake had increased by more than 2,100 to 67,183, another 361,822 people were injured and 20,790 were missing, according to the Information Office of the State Council.

More than 45.61 million people were affected in the devastating quake, and about 15 million have been evacuated.

In terms of the intensity and scope of destruction, the May 12 quake is believed to have surpassed the 7.8-magnitude quake in 1976 in Tangshan, northern Hebei Province, which claimed more than240,000 lives. 　

Editor:Xiong Qu