Yunnan earthquake death toll jumps to 589

A group of rescue workers walk through a collapsed road at an earthquake hit area in Ludian county, Zhaotong, Yunnan province on Aug 5, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A group of rescue workers walk through a collapsed road at an earthquake hit area in Ludian county, Zhaotong, Yunnan province on Aug 5, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Rescue workers walk past debris of houses at an earthquake zone in Ludian county, Zhaotong, Yunnan province on Aug 5, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

BEIJING (AFP) - At least 589 people have died in an earthquake that devastated a Chinese village, officials said on Wednesday, marking a sharp increase in the death toll.

"As of 10.30 on Wednesday... 589 people have died" after Sunday's magnitude 6.1 tremor in the south-western province of Yunnan, China's ministry of civil affairs said on its website.

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