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SCMP Reporter

70,000 homes destroyed as 6.4-magnitude jolt brings new woes to devastated county
The biggest aftershock since the May 12 Sichuan  earthquake - a 6.4 magnitude tremor - struck  yesterday afternoon.
The aftershock, in Qingchuan county near the province's northeastern border, caused at least two deaths and 25 serious injuries, blocked roads, caused landslides and led to a communications blackout in more than four townships and  villages.
In cities such as Chengdu , Chongqing , Xian  and as far as Beijing, dazed residents poured onto the streets in terror as the tremor  struck at 4.21 pm.
The aftershock was followed by another jolt in neighbouring Wenxian county in Gansu province .
Qingchuan county government spokesman Ma Jian   said the powerful jolt had added to the problems in the district.
'Our land communication with the outside world has been cut off again,' Mr Ma said. 'Huge landslides have fallen and blocked the only three roads we have and there are four towns and villages we cannot reach by phone at the moment.'
Xinhua said the aftershock destroyed more than 70,000 homes and left 200,000 more in danger of collapse.
The vice-mayor of Guangyuan city , Wang Fei , told  Xinhua the death and serious  injuries were caused by collapsed houses or landslides.
Witnesses at the epicentre said the ground rocked violently for about 30 seconds and calm returned after two minutes.
Doctors at Huaxi Hospital in Chengdu dashed out of their office and ran to their patients - many of whom were earthquake victims - when they saw the contents of water  bottles were churning.
'I had to go to see my patients immediately. Some of them were ...  terrified by the earthquake. I am afraid that this big one is likely to cause some emotional breakdowns,' Xiang Zhou   said.
Footpaths  in downtown Chengdu were full of the elderly people stumbling out of buildings and young people rushing out of skyscrapers.
The aftershock was also felt by some residents in Beijing, more than 2,000km away.
Housewife Cai Long walked down 36 floors after feeling the shock. 'I am afraid, but I am more concerned about people in Sichuan,' she said.
The aftershock  came a day after Premier Wen Jiabao pledged the authorities would work to ensure that everything returned to normal in three months.
Meanwhile, a survivor was pulled from the rubble 266 hours after the earthquake struck, CCTV reported.
Xiao Zhihu, 80, who is paralysed, was rescued in Mianzhu city  after being trapped under a  collapsed pillar of his house. He survived after being fed by his wife, who was too weak to seek outside help on her own, the report said. Mr Xiao was rescued on Friday.
At a glance
62,664 confirmed dead
23,775 missing
358,816 injured
29.05b yuan raised in donations
SOURCE: XINHUA



Big aftershock adds to the quake misery