A strong aftershock measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rocked southwest China's Sichuan Province at around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday.

The epicenter of Tuesday's quake was again in Wenchuan County, at 30.9 degrees north latitude and 103.4 degrees east longitude, said Yin Zhaomin, an official with the China Seismological Bureau.

This was the strongest aftershock after the devastating quake, measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, hit Wenchuan County, 159 km northwest of Chengdu, on Monday afternoon.

The aftershock was clearly felt within a radium of 200 km.

Most citizens in the provincial capital Chengdu felt the quake.

Office workers in downtown Chengdu took to the streets. Many said they felt clearly the buildings were rocking and bottles toppled.

"I felt dizzy and heard the window panes cracking," said Xinhua reporter Shi Chundong, who called from his 13th floor office in downtown Chengdu. "Bottles fell on the floor and everyone ran downstairs as fast as they could."

Reactions from those on lower floors, however, were not as strong.

Experts with the China Earthquake Networks Center said strong aftershocks may still rock Wenchuan, though quakes exceeding 7.8 on the Richter scale are unlikely.

The region has suffered more than 1,950 aftershocks in the past26 hours, including three over 6 on the Richter scale and 14 between 5 and 6.

Seismological experts said Wenchuan is prone to earthquakes and several massive quakes over 7 on the Richter scale were reported in history.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2008)