Death toll in China quake rises to 589

09:10, 15 April 2010

BEIJING. April 15. KAZINFORM The death toll from a powerful earthquake that has struck China's southern Qinghai province has risen to 589, the China Daily said on Thursday, quoting data from the local quake-relief headquarters.

A magnitude 7.1 temblor, the strongest to strike the country in nearly two years, hit an area in Qinghai, near Tibet, on Wednesday morning and was followed by three quakes in the same area.

Earlier, the death toll was put at 400. The number of those injured in the quake is estimated at 8,000.

Local media reports said some 100,000 people were left homeless as a result of the tremor, which destroyed about 15,000 houses.

The Chinese authorities have allocated some 200 million yuan (29.3 million dollars) for rescue efforts. Rescuers are facing difficulties in reaching the remote mountainous region, which is some 500 kilometers (300 miles) from the provincial capital.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday Russia was ready to help China deal with the aftermath of the earthquake .

"If it is necessary we are ready to render friendly Chinese people aid on rectification of the consequences of the earthquake," Medvedev said in a message to his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

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