A total of 2,536 aftershocks have been recorded in quake-hit Lushan County as of 8 p.m. Beijing time on Monday, local authorities said.

Ninety-five of the aftershocks were measured above 3.0 magnitude with four above 5.0 magnitude, said the earthquake administration of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Lushan County, Ya'an City in the province, at 8:02 a.m. Beijing time on Saturday, leaving at least 188 people dead and 25 missing, according to latest statistics from the the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Niu Zhijun, China Earthquake Administration deputy head, urged close monitoring of aftershocks, full implementation of earthquake relief work, coordination with local authorities to ensure rescue work, and strengthened examinations in crucial areas to search for survivors.

Lushan is about 200 km from the epicenter of the massive Wenchuan earthquake that left 87,000 dead or missing five years ago.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2013)