As of Saturday noon, 178 aftershocks measuring above 4 on the Richter scale had been monitored in southwest China's Sichuan Province, according to the State Council Information Office.

Among them, 27 aftershocks measured above magnitude 5, and four above magnitude 6, said the office.

A devastating earthquake measuring 8 on the Richter scale rocked Wenchuan county of Sichuan on May 12, leading to 60,560 deaths nationwide as of Saturday noon.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2008)