The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck China's northwest Qinghai province on Wednesday has risen to 1,144 people, local media reported.
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake, the strongest to strike the country in two years, hit an area in Qinghai, near Tibet, on the morning of April 14. The epicenter of the earthquake was registered at the depth of 33 km (20 miles) in Yushu county, in the south of Qinghai province.
The number of people injured has also risen to some 11,750, while 417 are considered missing.
Following aftershocks complicated relief operations. Hundreds of people remain under the debris in Yushu, a Tibetan plateau county where more than 15,000 houses, or 90% of all homes, were destroyed by the quake
There are currently 10,000 military servicemen, rescuers and doctors conducting relief operation in the quake-hit region.
The Chinese authorities have allocated some 200 million yuan (29.3 million dollars) for rescue efforts.
BEIJING, April 17 (RIA Novosti)
