SW China quake affects more than 52,000

KUNMING - An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale that jolted the border of southwest China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces on Wednesday morning has affected more than 52,000 residents of Yunnan, local authorities said on Thursday.

Some 126 aftershocks have been recorded, the largest measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale, according to a statement from the disaster relief headquarters of Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture, where Deqen county and Shangri-la county are located.

The quake hit the border area of Rongxian county in Sichuan and Deqen and Shangri-la counties in Yunnan at 4:44 am, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The epicenter, with a depth of 9 km, was monitored at 28.2 degrees north latitude and 99.3 degrees east longitude, the center said.

No casualties have been reported, although the quake has destroyed dozens of houses, cut off road traffic and telecommunication in two counties, affecting 52,617 people, 5,000 of whom have been relocated, the statement from Diqing said.

As of 6 pm on Wednesday, more than 600 tents, 1,200 quilts and 18 tonnes of grain had been sent to the disaster areas, it added.