Major evacuation after SW China earthquake

KUNMING, China, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- An earthquake that damaged nearly 700 homes forced some 65,000 people into shelters Wednesday in China's southwestern Yunnan province.

The quake hit Yingjiang County Tuesday afternoon and had a magnitude of 4.8 on the open-ended Richter scale, county officials told the Xinhua news agency.

There was no immediate report on injuries, but officials said 229 homes had been seriously damaged and 448 others had sustained lesser damage, the report said.

The quake's center was about 6 miles deep, geologists said.

The quake came just before Chinese New Year Thursday and county officials said they were trying to ensure a "merry and safe" celebration for evacuees by providing them with tents, blankets, coats and 10 tons of rice, Xinhua said.

Read more: upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2011/02/02/Major-evacuation-after-SW-China-earthquake/UPI-46791296650674/