Thousands Affected by Friday Quake in NW China

February 22, 2009 12:33 p.m. EST

Beijing, China (AHN) - The weekend began disastrously for tens of thousands of people in northwestern China when a 5.2 magnitude earthquake shook two provinces.

No casualties have yet been reported in the Friday afternoon temblor. Losses are estimated at more than 10.8 million U.S. dollars.

Officials in the mountainous Kalpin and Akqi counties reported that more than 28,000 residents had suffered economic losses.

Some 600 people in people in Kalpin were evacuated. More than 5,000 homes were damaged and about 200 destroyed. An additional $6.5 million in agricultural losses were reported in Akqi.

While that area was still being shaken by aftershocks, a second tragedy took place in Shanxi province in the northern part of the country.

A gas explosion in a coal mine early Sunday morning trapped at least 96 miners underground, according to initial reports. At least 74 miners were killed and hundreds injured.