May 16 (Reuters) - Parts of China's southwestern province of Sichuan have been devastated by the magnitude 7.9 earthquake that hit the area on Monday. The province, known for its spicy cuisine and for being home to the giant panda, is a major producer of agricultural products, particularly pork. At about the size of Spain, it is one of the country's biggest provinces both in terms of area and population. The areas most affected by the earthquake account for roughly 8 percent of the province's population and up to 10 percent of its overall economic output, according to initial estimates by the provincial statistics agency. Following are some key figures about Sichuan: PCT OF NATIONAL TOTAL Area: 485,000 sq km (187,200 sq miles) 5.1 pct Population: 81.3 million 6.2 pct Economic output (2007): 1.05 trln yuan ($150 billion) 4.3 pct Foreign direct investment (2007): $2.0 bln 2.7 pct Exports (2007): $8.61 bln 0.7 pct PCT OF NATIONAL AVERAGE Urban per capita income (full-year): 11,098 yuan 80.5 pct Rural per capita income (full-year): 3,547 yuan 85.7 pct (Figures are for full-year 2007 or the end of 2007.) Output of key products (2006) PCT OF NATIONAL TOTAL Pork 5.4 mln tonnes 10.4 pct Grain 28.9 mln tonnes 5.8 pct Rice 13.4 mln tonnes 7.3 pct Wheat 4.4 mln tonnes 4.2 pct Corn 5.1 mln tonnes 3.5 pct Coal 86.0 mln tonnes 3.6 pct Natural gas 16.0 bln cubic metres 27.3 pct Crude oil 179,800 tonnes 0.1 pct Electricity 122.7 bln kilowatt hours (kwh) 4.3 pct Hydropower 78.5 bln kwh 18.0 pct Pig iron 13.4 mln tonnes 3.2 pct Crude steel 12.3 mln tonnes 2.9 pct The province also has roughly 5 percent of China's aluminium smelting capacity and 4 percent of zinc smelting capacity. (Compiled by Jason Subler and Zhou Xin in Beijing)
Residents search for their family at a collapsed building after an earthquake in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province May 13, 2008. China said on Tuesday an earthquake centred in the southwest province of ...
