A 4.5-magnitude aftershock on Tuesday killed two people and injured another one in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, local authorities confirmed.

The aftershock hit Ningqiang County at 1:51 p.m.. The two dead, Zhao Xuming, 65, native of Zengjiahe Township and Tang Quanyou, native of Nanzheng County, were killed as the aftershock toppled the houses, according to the earthquake relief headquarters of Hanzhong City.

The injured, Liu Zhiqiang, native of Ningqiang, hurt his legs as he was shaken off from the roof where he was doing repairing work.

The death toll of China's massive 8.0-magnitude earthquake added up to 69,172 with another 17,420 still missing as of Tuesday noon.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2008)