(Photo : The damage caused by the earthquake)

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The two earthquakes that struck southwest China's Yunnan Province last week have destroyed at least 45 religious sites and 109 schools, authorities said.

In Deqen County, 20 religious sites were damaged, mostly Tibetan Buddhist temples, according to the religious affairs administration of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Deqen.

In Susu Autonomous Country of Weixi, 25 religious sites were reportedly destroyed in last week's earthquakes. Most of the sites were Christian churches.

The number of religious sites damaged in last week's two earthquakes is expected to increase as the religious affairs administration is still assessing the number of sites damaged in Shangri-La County.

No Deaths In Religious Sites

While damages were reported, there were no incidents of deaths or serious injuries in those religious sites, said Bai Linde, the deputy chief of the prefecture religious affairs administration.

In Shangri-La, the earthquake last week damaged 120 monk dormitories of the 334-year-old Tibetan Buddhist temple Sumtsen Ling Monastery. Cracks were reported in two Buddha halls and majority of the 720 monks have been told to go home while the damages are being repaired.

On August 28, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Yunnan Province. Another earthquake, measuring 5.9-magnitude again struck the province, resulting to deaths, injuries, and damages to properties.

$240-million Economic Damages

According to the prefecture government, the twin earthquakes have resulted to economic losses of nearly CNY1.5 billion ($240 million) and affected the lives of more than 120,000 people.

Meanwhile, local authorities said the two earthquakes destroyed 109 schools, affecting 60,000 students in the province. The prefecture's education bureau has announced that opening of autumn term will be suspended. All 109 damaged schools are located in Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Some 300 tourists were also evacauted from Shangri-La and Deqen in Yunnan and Derong country in Sichuan following the earthquakes, tourism officials announced.

The earthquakes have also cut off power and telecommunications supplies in the affected provinces, authorities said.