BEIJING
The death toll from a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in China's Yunnan province has risen to 589, according to the country's national news agency.
Xinhua reported that at least 589 people had been confirmed dead as of Wednesday morning after the tremor rattled the province Sunday afternoon. More than 2,800 others were injured while nine remain missing.
More than 500 of the deaths were in the county seat of Ludian, the news agency reported. Over one million people have affected due to earthquake.
China's Red Cross is reported to have donated $5.4 million (33 million yuan) to the region, while also sending relief materials worth costs 15 million yuan.
On Tuesday, the finance ministry said the government has allocated 600 million yuan ($97 million) for rescue and relief work and the government has sent 33,000 tents, 60,000 coats, 10,000 folding beds and 50 portable toilets to the region.
The quake struck at 4:30 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) at a depth of 12 km, with its epicenter in Longtoushan Township, 23 km southwest of Ludian in Zhaotong City.
The death toll is over seven times that of a 5.7 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Zhaotong in 2012, killing 80 people and injuring more than 800.
www.aa.com.tr/en
