State media reported the official death toll in the 7.8 magnitude quake

A major earthquake in southwest China's Sichuan Province has killed over 7,000 people, state media reported.

The official Xinhua news agency said the figure had been calculated by the ad hoc headquarters for disaster relief headed by Premier Wen Jiabao in Sichuan.

The U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site that the quake struck 57 miles (92 kilometers) northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu at 2:28 p.m. (6:28 GMT).

It said the 7.8-magnitude quake was centered about 6 miles (10 kilometers) below the surface.

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