Inner Mongolia Hit By 700 Year Quake

BEIJING, China, August 20, 2003 (ENS) - The worst earthquake in 700 years rocked North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region late Saturday night, leaving some 115,000 people homeless, injuring more than 1,100 people, and claiming three lives.

Chinese authorities put the magnitude of the quake at 5.9, while the U.S. Geological Survey said it was measured at 5.4.

Shelter forest in the suburbs of Chifeng City (Photo courtesy China's Agenda 21)

The Ministry of Civil Affairs says the earthquake cut power to the area and caused a landslide. About 7,900 homes, most built of mud brick, were destroyed and 83,000 were damaged, the ministry said.

The Chifeng City Seismological Network reported over 60 aftershocks, with the most serious one measuring a magnitude of 4.4.

The ministry has sent 5,000 tents to the earthquake area. Local civil affairs departments sent 1,500 quilts and warm clothing to help homeless people survive the bitterly cold nights and heavy rain.

Inner Mongolia's bureau of Civil Affairs has asked the Chinese government to help with housing for the homeless.

A special team sent by the China Seismological Bureau arrived in Chifeng Sunday to inspect the area and further assess the damage, a bureau spokesman told the "China Daily" newspaper.

On Monday, the Chinese government allocated 10.8 million yuan (US$1.18 million) as emergency relief to Chifeng city.

The Red Cross Society of China's Inner Mongolia Provincial branch responded immediately to the earthquake, society officials said. Local branch staff from the Chifeng City branch distributed medicine, clothing, quilts and tents.

The Red Cross national headquarters in Beijing released funds to the society's Inner Mongolia Provincial Branch for the purchase of rice and wheat flour, and plans to send 1,000 quilts for distribution in the affected area.