国内英语新闻:Relief materials sent to quake-hit SW China

BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Tents, quilts, coats and other relief materials have been sent to southwest China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in the wake of an earthquake that jolted the area on Sunday, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Monday.

Local governments in Yunnan have shipped 2,800 tents, 5,500 quilts and 4,500 coats, as well as other relief materials, to quake-hit Ninglang county, a ministry statement said.

In Sichuan's Yanyuan county, 50 tents, 100 quilts and 260 sets of clothes have been handed out to quake-hit residents, the statement said.

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted the two counties Sunday, killing three people in Ninglang and one in Yanyuan.

The earthquake was followed by 53 aftershocks, with the strongest one measured at magnitude 3.8.

The quake toppled over 4,280 houses and cut traffic and water supplies in Ninglang, disrupting the lives of more than 21,800 people, according to the local government.

Rescue and relief operations are going on smoothly and local authorities are still surveying the damage, the statement said.

A team of officials and experts have left Beijing for the quake-hit areas to aid in rescue and relief efforts, it said.