450,000 affected by Xinjiang earthquake

The number of people affected by a 7.3-magnitude earthquake that jolted Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Wednesday has shot up to more than 450,000 from the previously reported 7,800, news portal people.com.cn reported Saturday.

Relief work is progressing and no casualties have been reported.

A total of 68,340 houses have collapsed and 497 bridges have been damaged by the earthquake, according to statistics released by the regional civil affairs department.

The department said reported statistics on losses inflicted by the disaster have surged since calculations are still under way.

The epicenter, in a sparsely populated area with an average altitude of 5,000 meters, is more than 50 kilometers from the nearest settlement, Aqqan township in Hotan Prefecture.