The earthquake that struck northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Monday morning has killed 257 people and injured over 1,000 others by 17:15, local government officials said.

The earthquake is the most serious in the region since 1949, when New China was founded.

More than 1,000 houses and school buildings have collapsed in a village in Bachu County, the epicenter of the earthquake that measured 6.8 on the Richter scale.

Some officials from the China Seismological Bureau and local seismological bureau have flown to the area.

Several other places including Jiashi County, Kashi City, Bachu County, Artux County and Markit County also felt strong tremors.

The earthquake occurred at 39.5 degrees north latitude and 77.2 degrees east longitude, according to the China Seismological Bureau.

(Xinhua News Agency February 24, 2003)