China quake toll rises to 2,039

By IANS,

Beijing: The toll in China’s 7.1-magnitude earthquake has reached 2,039 Monday, with 195 people still missing, rescue officials said.

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The quake, which struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in China’s northwest Qinghai province Wednesday, has also left 12,135 injured, of whom 1,434 are in serious condition, Xinhua reported quoting rescue officials.

The quake was followed by a series of aftershocks, which toppled 15,000 residential buildings and forced 100,000 residents to relocate, authorities said, adding that many people were still buried under the debris of collapsed houses.

More than 85 percent of houses, mostly made of mud and wood, collapsed in Gyegu, the town of 100,000 residents.