China says 20,000 relocated after quake; no deaths but damage heavy

BEIJING, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Nearly 20,000 people were relocated after a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in China this week but no deaths or injuries were reported, officials said Friday.

Overall, more than 58,000 people were affected, nearly 3,300 houses were destroyed and 30,300 properties damaged by the Wednesday quake in Hotan prefecture in the northwestern , Xinhua reported.

Financial losses were estimated at $44.5 million.

More than 2,100 head of livestock died in the quake, officials said.

Relief workers delivered tents, winter clothing, basic food supplies and coal to affected residents.

The epicenter of the quake was in a sparsely populated area at an altitude above 16,000 feet and more than 30 miles from the nearest settlement.