英语说中国

LHASA -- At least nine people were killed in a strong earthquake that jolted a county near Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on Monday, the rescue headquarters confirmed early Tuesday morning.

The previous "at least 30" death toll was inaccurate due to unauthoritative sources and needs further check.

Rescuers arrived at Yangyi Village, the worst-hit site in Gedar Township of Damxung County, late Monday night after repairing the road once paralyzed in the 6.6-magnitude tremor.

At least 147 houses in Yangyi and villages in a neighboring county collapsed. Rescuers recovered nine bodies from the debris, and 11 people were seriously injured while eight others received light injuries, Hao Peng, deputy chairman of the autonomous regional government and head of the rescue command, told Xinhua.

More than 600 soldiers, police officers, firefighters, traffic, medical and geological experts were rushing to the quake zone. Food, drinking water, tents and other materials had been transported to the area. Rescue operation was underway. The injured were being sent to local hospitals.

An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale jolted Damxung, 82 km from Lhasa, at 4:30 pm Monday. The epicenter was at 29.8 degrees north and 90.3 degrees east.

Tremors were felt in Lhasa, but no major damages were found in buildings or historical sites there, including the famed Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple.

"We examined every palace and building right after the quake and no damages were found," said Jamba Gesang, head of the management department of the Potala Palace.

The Jokhang Temple kept hosting visitors as all constructions were unaffected in the tremor.

Key cultural relics also stayed intact, as the sites were far from the epicenter, said Yu Dawa, chief of the cultural heritage bureau of Tibet.

The famous Bargor Street was as bustling as usual.

The Qinghai-Tibet railway and Lhasa airport remained in normal services.