AT least 258 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured yesterday when an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale ripped through a remote area in northwest China.

At least 242 people were killed today by a powerful earthquake that struck China’s remote western region of Xinjiang, the government said. More than 1,000 homes were destroyed in just one town.

A powerful earthquake struck China’s remote west today, killing at least 94 people and collapsing houses, a disaster official said.