Panchen Lama prays for SW China quake victims

BEIJING - The 11th Panchen Lama, Bainqen Erdini Qoigyijabu, said he has prayed for the victims and survivors in the devastating 6.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Southwest China's Yunnan province Sunday.

The Panchen Lama, one of the most revered living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, told Xinhua that he was grieving over the quake and prayed for the living to avoid suffering and the deceased to receive early relief.

The quake occurred at 4:30 pm Sunday (Beijing Time) with a depth of 12 km. The epicenter was at Longtoushan Township, 23 km southwest of the county seat of Ludian.

At least 381 people had died as of 8:40 a.m. Monday, rescuers said.