Published by: World Tibet Network News, Sunday, July 7th 1996

LHASA (July 5) XINHUA - No casualties or relatively extensive property damage was reported after an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter Scale hit the Tibet Autonomous Region Wednesday in southwest China.

The quake shook Xaitongmoin County at 14:44 on July 3, with an epicenter at 29.7 degrees north latitude, 87.8 degrees east longitude. A 5.1 aftershock hit the county 100 km from Xigaze at 16:01 on the same day.

Cracks appeared on houses in Qingtu and Lungsang, near the epicenter, and landslides covered some sections of the Chag La District highway.

The local seismological bureau does not expect additional aftershocks in Tibet, and it has advised visitors not to change their travel plans.

The bureau said that quakes often occur in remote mountainous areas and grasslands, where the death toll and property loss is usually low.

Frequent seismic activity has been reported in northern Xaitongmoin County in recent years. The last quake in the area occurred on May 10, and measured 5.1 on the Richter Scale. Enditem 05/07/96 16:09 GMT