The central government has earmarked 4,600 tonnes of grain for the quake-hit Yushu region in northwest China's Qinghai Province, local authorities confirmed Sunday.

The donated grain includes 3,680 tonnes of wheat flour and 920 tonnes of rice, said a spokesman for Qinghai provincial development and reform commission.

According to the spokesman, the relief grain will be allotted to quake victims in Yushu free of charge according a standard of 0.5 kilograms per person daily for three months.

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu early Wednesday. At least 1,706 were killed and 12,128 injured, according to Sunday's latest official tally.

The devastating earthquake affected about 100,000 people in a 30,000 square kilometer area, the China Earthquake Administration said Sunday.

Made of wood and mud, most houses in the area collapsed or are on the verge of collapse.

Food, drinking water and weather-proof tents, quilts and coats are all in short supply, local officials said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2010)