The earthquake that struck North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Saturday evening has killed at least three people and left thousands of others homeless.

Local villagers stand in front of their home that was destroyed by the earthquake. [newsphoto.com.cn]

Bairin Left Banner (county) and Ar Horqin Banner, under the administration of Chifeng in this region, were most seriously hit by the quake that measured 5.9 on the Richter scale.

It struck at 6:58 pm on Saturday with the epicenter about 500 kilometres northeast of Beijing.

Neighbouring Bairin Right Banner and Ongnuid Banner also reported injuries and the collapse of homes.

The quake has also injured more than 1,000 others, including 54 people who have been seriously injured, a Ministry of Civil Affairs official said yesterday.

More than 7,900 homes have been demolished and another 83,000 were damaged in the quake area. It also cut power and caused a landslide.

The ministry has sent 5,000 tents to the disaster area. And local civil affairs departments also sent 1,500 quilts and warm clothing to the area.

A special team sent by the China Seismological Bureau arrived in Chifeng yesterday morning to inspect the area and further assess the damage, a bureau spokesman said.

Residents in some regions of Beijing, Tianjin and Northeast China's Liaoning Province also felt the earthquake.

It is the most serious earthquake that hit Chifeng city in 700 years.

The Chifeng Seismological Network reported over 70 aftershocks with the most serious coming yesterday, which measured 4.7 on the Richter scale.

The local meteorological department had forecast heavy rain for Ar Horqin Banner last night.

Local government officials have been busy co-ordinating rescue efforts, collecting further information and trying to put a figure on the cost of losses. No estimate was available last night.

Seismological bureau officials have predicted there will be more earthquakes in China this year compared to 2002.

The region around Beijing, including Hebei and Inner Mongolia, is being closely monitored by seismological authorities.

More than 100 million yuan (US$12 million) was spent on improving the monitoring network in the area from 1996 to 2000, they said.

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