Wenchuan, epicenter of the devastating May 12 earthquake in southwest China, was jolted by a new tremor of 4.9 degrees on the Richter scale on Friday.

The earthquake bureau in Sichuan Province monitored the aftershock at 1:06 AM, with the epicenter at 31 degrees north and 103.2 degrees east.

The tremor was also felt in Chengdu, the provincial capital, according to the bureau.

The earthquake relief headquarters of Wenchuan County said no reports of casualties had been received as of 10:00 AM.

The death toll from the magnitude-8 May 12 earthquake in Sichuan and neighboring regions stands at 69,225, according to the State Council Information Office.

The number of people listed as missing is 17,924, while the number of the injured is 374,640.

From Monday noon to Wednesday noon, three aftershocks from 4 to4.9 degrees and 570 aftershocks at or below magnitude-3.9 were monitored in the quake zone, according to the China Earthquake Administration. A total of 23,880 aftershocks had been detected since May 12.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2008)