KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): The Home Ministry said there were no casualties involving Malaysians in the earthquake that hit the Sichuan province in China. 
 
It was reported that the 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Jiuzhaigou, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest Sichuan at 9.19pm last night. 
 
Wisma Putra said in a press statement that at least 13 people were reported to have lost their lives and 175 injured as of 11am today. 
 
However, a more recent report by Reuters showed the number of death has increased to 19 people, including six tourists, while 247 people were injured. 
 
As many as 30,000 tourists were reported to have been evacuated from the quake zone, leading to traffic jams on the narrow roads.
 
The Consulate General of Malaysia in Kunming is currently in close contact with the authorities of Sichuan province, for the latest update on this incident.