NANJING, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 15,000 pigs have been culled after an outbreak of African swine fever in the city of Lianyungang, in east China's Jiangsu Province, local authorities said Tuesday.

The provincial agricultural department said the pigs were culled in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

More than 45,000 pigs from over 800 pig farms in affected areas have been inspected. No abnormalities have been reported.

An outbreak of African swine fever was discovered at a farm in Lianyungang on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The farm in Haizhou District reported 615 infected pigs and 88 have died after deaths began to be registered on Aug. 15.

Local authorities have initiated an emergency response mechanism to block, cull, and disinfect the affected pigs.