4.8-magnitude earthquake hits SW China

4.8-magnitude earthquake hits Changning county of Yibin city,  Southwest China's Sichuan province at 12:26 pm on Wednesday, said the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

Students affected by a magnitude-6.0 earthquake in Southwest China’s Sichuan province are expected to return to classrooms in September after reinforcement of the affected school buildings.

When the earthquake jolted Changning, a county under the administration of Yibin in Sichuan, on June 17, some 20, 000 kindergarten, primary and high school students were displaced because their classrooms were destroyed or damaged.

According to Yang Zhongcai, vice secretary-general of Yibin municipal government, the government plans to reinforce slightly damaged classroom buildings and build new ones so that students can return in September.

Some 50, 000 houses were destroyed or damaged in the Changning earthquake zone. Of them, 15, 000 were so badly damaged that they will be demolished.

"Another 12, 000 slightly damaged houses will be reinforced, " Yang said.

The Changning earthquake killed 13 people. Most perished after houses collapsed or building materials fell.

Yang said that reinforcement of slightly damaged houses will be completed in three months. Construction of new houses for people whose houses were badly damaged in the earthquake and have to be demolished will be completed before Spring Festival.

"So they can move to new houses for the most important festival of family reunion," Yang said.

A magnitude-4.8 earthquake took place in Changning at 12:26 pm on Wednesday. No casualties were reported. No houses collapsed.

Some 2, 800 aftershocks in the Changning earthquake zone have taken place since June 17. The number wounded in the Changning earthquake was initially counted as 199. It stands at 286.

"One reason is that frequent aftershocks have caused additional people to be injured," Yang said.

The Changning earthquake resulted in a relocation of 80, 000 people and 30, 000 had lived in tents.

"Most no longer live in tents because they have sought shelter in relatives' and friends' homes, " he added.