Ten killed in earthquake in NW China's Xinjiang

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 01, 2003

Ten killed in earthquake in NW China's Xinjiang

Ten people were reported dead Monday in an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The quake occurred at 9:38 a.m. Monday in Zhaosu County, the Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, according to the regional seismological bureau.

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As of press time, 10 people were killed and 34 were injured Monday in the earthquake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to the regional seismological bureau.

The quake, measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale, occurred at 9:38a.m. Monday, with the epicenter located at 43.1 degrees north latitude, 80.1 degrees east longitude, about 80 kilometers away from the county proper of Zhaosu.

The quake was strongly felt in Zhaosu County and surrounding areas, and a provisional investigation showed that more than 700 houses collapsed and nearly 140 houses were in critical condition.

The local seismological bureau has sent a rescue team to the quake-hit area.

Rescue team with relief materials sent to quake-hit areas

The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) has dispatched a team of officers and men for emergent rescue work in the quake-hit areas of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Meanwhile, it immediately sent the first batch of relief goods and materials, including 300 tents and a relief fund of 500,000 yuan (60,240 US dollars)

The XPCC incurred great losses in the quake.

Most of the collapsed houses, built over three decades ago, were occupied by workers of the XPCC from the locality.

In October 1954, the central government ordered most of the PLAunits stationed in Xinjiang transferred to local civilian work.

Separated from the setups of national defense forces, the military units formed a production and construction corps, whose missions were to carry out both production and militia duties, andcultivate and guard border areas.

With a population of 2.45 million, including 933,000 workers, the XPCC is subordinated to the dual leadership of the central government and the government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Zhaosu county is located in the bordering area between China and Kazakhstan, where geological movements are active, and the quake Monday is the strongest over recent years.

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