It was not known by last night whether anyone has died, but the quake cut off cables and roads, further exacerbating the already poor communications and traffic conditions on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, said a bureau employee who identified himself only as Zhang.

Kangding, the prefecture seat, is 260 kilometres west of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan.

At least 2,596 people in Tongxiao Township felt the jolt.

The local government has sent victims to safe shelters, but the homeless need disaster-relief materials like tents, Sichuan Seismology Bureau officials said.

The earthquake caused eight houses to collapse and seriously destroyed 66 others in Tongxiao Township, the worst hit region in Xinlong County. About 76 livestock are also missing, local officials said via satellite telephone.

( China Daily August 10, 2002)