BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The China Earthquake Networks Center said at its website that the tremor in Beijing was actually triggered by the quake wave from Sichuan Province in southwest China and not a separate earthquake.

    A major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale rocked Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 2:28 p.m. Monday.

    Earlier reports said a minor quake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale jolted the Tongzhou District in eastern Beijing at 2:35 p.m.

    The tremor in Beijing shook high-rise buildings and sent panicked people into streets.