420,000 houses collapse in quake zone
Wednesday, May 28th, 200828/5/08; http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23771107-12335,00.html
More than 420,000 houses have collapsed in the quake-hit Sichuan province in south-west China after two fresh aftershocks hit the area this afternoon. The Xinhua News Agency, quoting local disaster relief headquarters, said the houses were in Qingchuan County but gave no other details including possible casualties. South-west China has been rocked by dozens of powerful aftershocks after an earthquake on May 12 measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale hit densely populated Sichuan province, killing at least 67,000 people. As of noon on Monday, 182 aftershocks measuring above four on the Richter scale had been recorded in Sichuan, Xinhua said earlier, citing the China Seismological Bureau. Today’s aftershocks measured 5.4 and 5.7 on the Richter scale, state media said earlier, and came within half an hour of one another.
