Following an earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale striking central China's Hubei Province on Friday, around 6,000 evacuees started to return home on Monday. 

 

Shops, restaurants and gas stations resumed business and schools have reopened, local civil affairs sources said Monday. 

 

The quake struck Sanligang Township, of Zengdu District, Suizhou City, at 6:52 PM Friday. There was a further quake on Saturday measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale.  

 

No casualties were reported but 4,318 houses in 39 villages were damaged and 5,860 people were relocated. The provincial Red Cross Society and local civil affairs agencies delivered bedding and tents to the quake-hit area.   

 

The Zengdu district government dispatched work teams on Saturday to the affected villages to check the damaged properties, said Liu Hongye, a senior district official.  

 

Local governments had earmarked 200,000 yuan (about US$25,000) for relief work, said Liu. More funds would be allocated for the reconstruction of damaged homes.  

 

Six minor aftershocks were detected on Saturday and Sunday in the area but seismologists ruled out the possibility of strong tremors in the near future. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2006)