Four people were confirmed dead and 20 others were seriously injured in Hanzhong city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province when a strong aftershock measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted Qingchuan County of southwestern Sichuan Province on Sunday afternoon, said an official with Hanzhong city Monday.

Hu Runze, mayor of Hangzhong, said all the four dead were in a paddy field of Xixiang County when the aftershock occurred.

Investigation has started for the detailed losses caused by the aftershock, Hu said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2008)