An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter Scale jolted Weining Yi Hui and Miao Autonomous County of southwestern Guizhou Province at 20:48 p.m. Sunday, according to China's seismological network.

The epicenter was located at 26.8 degrees north latitude and 104.2 degrees east longitude between the Shuanglong Township and Halahe Township of Weining County.

An obvious tremor was felt and no casualties had been reported, Wang Bingrong, Party chief of Weining County, told Xinhua by phone. Wang is on his way to the epicenter.

A few farmhouses cracked or collapsed in the quake, said, county chief Wu Xuejun, who went to the epicenter to coordinate rescue efforts.

"The local government officials went to schools soon after the quake to check their safety. All the students and teachers have been evacuated to the playground. They have become calm now," Wu said.

"The local residents stay calm. The local government is continuing to accommodate the affected residents and assess the losses," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2009)