Memorial service held for victims of earthquake in Xizang

A memorial service was held on Monday to mourn the victims of a deadly magnitude-6.8 quake in Dingri County in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

The service was held in the hardest-hit Chamco Township in Dingri County at 9:30 a.m. Monday with the presence of hundreds of people including rescue workers from multi fronts and government officials, as well as affected local residents.

They took off their hats and stood in silence for three minutes in memory of the dead.

On January 7, a magnitude-6.8 earthquake hit Dingri, home to the northern base camp of the world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, claiming the lives of 126 people.

The strong quake has left some 61,500 people affected to varying degrees and over 27,000 houses damaged or destroyed.

(With input from Xinhua)