Over 15,000 people affected by quake in China

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale today jolted southwest China's quake-prone Yunnan Province affecting over 15,000 people and damaging 469 houses, official media reported.
The tremor jolted Yangbi County in Yunnan Province at 7:55 am (local time). The epicentre was monitored at depth of about 12 km.
The quake has affected the lives of 15,786 people, a government report said.
No casualties have been reported so far. But damage was reported in eight townships under Yangbi where houses were collapsed, cracks appeared on walls, while schools, dams, and water facilities were also "impaired" state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Four tremors measuring 3 to 4.7 on the Richter scale hit the same region before and after the magnitude 5.1 quake, China Earthquake Networks Centre said.
Wang Caixun, a Yangbi publicity official, said the epicentre was at Ajia and Puping villages, where some houses were reportedly damaged.