China quake damages over 2,000 buildings

Beijing, Jan 10: An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale damaged more than 2,000 buildings in northwest China, but no casualties were reported, Xinhua news agency today said.

The earthquake struck in largely rural and poverty-stricken Gansu province last night, the agency said.

''Several buildings collapsed, but local officials believe none of them was residential,'' Xinhua said.

Earthquakes are common in China. In August, a 5.1 magnitude quake rocked the southwest province of Yunnan, killing two people.

In December, tremors were felt in Hong Kong and southern China when two earthquakes struck southern Taiwan.

Reuters