The government of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region said on Monday 140 people were killed and 828 injured during Sunday evening's riot in the capital Urumqi.

Firemen rescue a man injured in the riot in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, early July 6, 2009. [Li Haitao/Xinhua]

Rioters burned 261 motor vehicles, including 190 buses. The regional government says the situation is now under control.

Serious violent crimes began in Urumqi at about 8 p.m. Sunday.

Rioters attacked, smashed, looted and burned in various places downtown.

Hundreds of civilians were injured.

The woman was beaten to the ground and the rioter continued to kick her in the head.

The rioters smashed many vehicles, including buses and police cars.

The violence continued late into the night. Burning vehicles could be seen at many places in the city. he rioters also set fire to many stores.

The situation has been brought under control. But many local ethnic Uygur and Han residents still have a lingering fear.

A Urumqi resident said, "The scene was tragic and very, very cruel."

This cigarette and liquor store was looted and burnt, but fortunately, the owner escaped.

A Urumqi shop owner said, "It was about half past nine. At first I thought they would leave after smashing our store. While they were tearing things apart, my sister-in-law and I hid under the bed. They took all the cigarettes and other things. They set a fire and the sheets were burning above us. It last for three hours. We didn't think we'd survive."