Seismic experts at the China Earthquake Networks Center have held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation in Qinghai.

They say the event shares similarity with the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. Both happened on the same quake belt.

Liu Jie, Deputy Director of Forcast Department, Earthquake Networks Center, said, "A 4.7-magnitude quake jolted the county first. Then the major one measuring 7.1 Richter scale struck. After it, a 6.0-magnitude aftershock was reported."

"We think more aftershocks will happen. As we know, in 2008, the Wenchuan earthquake was followed by several strong aftershocks," he said. "This time, the biggest aftershock reached 6.3 in magnitude. So we think the intensity of aftershocks will be stronger than the Wenchuan quake, especially in the hours following."

(CCTV.com April 14, 2010)