60,000 students affected in southwest China quake

Some 109 schools and 60,000 students in southwest China's Yunnan Province have been affected by an earthquake that hit the junction area of Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, according to local authorities on Sunday. All 109 schools in Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture have been ordered to suspend the opening of autumn term, which will affect nearly 60,000 students, the prefecture's education bureau said. A total of 14 schools were damaged in Deqen Tibetan Autonomous prefecture in the 5.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Deqen and Shangri-La counties in Yunnan and Derong County in Sichuan Province on Saturday morning, leaving five people died and 29 others injured. The prefectural education authorities have urged maintaining stability and safety on campus and the exact time when schools begin is not yet known.