SW China earthquake affects 15,000 people

KUNMING, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A magnitude 5.1 earthquake that hit southwest China has affected the lives of 15,786 people, according to the latest government tally.

The tremor jolted Yangbi County in Yunnan Province at 7:55 a.m. Monday.

One person was injured by falling tiles, and has been treated in time.

Damage was reported in eight townships under Yangbi. Houses collapsed, cracks appeared on walls, while schools, dams, and water facilities were also impaired. The local government said the lives of 2,105 people in 469 households were seriously affected.

Economic loss of the quake was initially estimated at 202 million yuan (29 million U.S. dollars).

The epicenter, at depth of about 12 km, was monitored at 25.89 degrees north latitude and 99.8 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Four tremors measuring 3 to 4.7 on the Richter scale hit the same region before and after the magnitude 5.1 quake.

A multi-sector rescue team, which include firemen, armed police and disaster relief personnel are working at the quake zone.

The first batch of relief goods including 50 tents, 300 quilts, 100 overcoats, 100 cartons of food, 500 kilograms of rice are on the way to the area.