China Earthquake : Dozens Killed, 600 Injured

China Earthquake: Dozens Killed, 600 Injured


An earthquake strikes Sichuan province leaving dozens of
people dead and hundreds injured, Chinese media says.


6:27am UK,
Saturday 20 April 2013




Video: Many Feared Dead In China
Quake
Enlarge
Lushan was hit just after 8am local time

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More than 70 people have died and over 600 injured after an
earthquake struck China's southwestern province of Sichuan, Chinese media
says.

The quake, measured at varying magnitudes between 6.6 and 7.0, hit at 8.02am
local time close to the city of Ya'an in Lushan county and the epicentre had a
depth of 8 miles (13km), Xinhua reported.

It set off landslides, destroyed buildings and has triggered a major rescue
operation involving 2,000 troops.

The quake was felt strongly by residents in neighbouring provinces and in the
provincial capital city of Chengdu, causing many to rush outside, according to
accounts on China's Weibo microblogging service.

A resident in Chengdu said he was on the 13th floor of a building when he
felt the quake. The building shook for about 20 seconds and he saw tiles fall
from nearby buildings.

The quake struck close to where a massive tremor occured in 2008, killing
68,000 people.

Sky's Asia Correspondent Mark Stone said: "The huge earthquake in 2008 was
magnitude 7.9 and at a depth of 12 miles. This latest quake has smaller
magnitude and depth, but it is still very much a concern for people in
Sichuan."
A building damaged by the quake. Pic:
Weibo
Local seismologists registered the quake at magnitude 7.0 while the US
Geological Survey (USGS) gave it as 6.6.

USGS said that "significant" casualties were likely and that "extensive
damage is probable and disaster is likely widespread".

"Past events with this alert level have required a national or international
level response," it added.

Earthquakes frequently strike the country's southwest.

The earthquake of 2008 flattened swathes of Chengdu province along with parts
of neighbouring Shaanxi and Gansu.

Twin tremors in neighbouring Yunnan province last September triggered
landslides that left at least 80 people dead.

A magnitude-5.5 quake in Yunnan last June killed four people and injured more
than 100.

Another 5.4 tremor the year before near the border with Burma left 25 people
dead and injured 250.

China: Sichuan Earthquake Kills At Least 179


Rescuers are hunting for survivors after an earthquake
strikes rural China, killing at least 179 people and injuring thousands.


5:14am UK,
Sunday 21 April 2013



Video: Almost 6,000 Injured By China
Quake

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By Mark Stone, China correspondent

At least 179 people are believed to have been killed and more
than 6,700 injured after an earthquake struck China's province of Sichuan.

Chinese news agency Xinhua said the quake, measured at varying magnitudes
between 6.6 and 7.0, struck at 8.02am local time close to the city of Ya'an in
Lushan county and the epicentre had a depth of a little less than eight miles
(13km).

It started landslides, destroyed buildings, and triggered a major rescue
operation involving emergency services and more than 2,000 troops.
Residents take shelter in a public square in
Chengdu
The rescue effort is understood to have been hampered by aftershocks and
landslides. Some of the tremors which followed the main quake have been almost
as strong.

According to local media reports, a vehicle carrying 17 soldiers fell off a
cliff and into a river as it travelled to the epicentre. One soldier was killed
and seven more injured, three seriously.

But extraordinary stories of survival are already emerging. According to one
local media report, a mother managed to lift concrete weighing 50kg to rescue
her son from the rubble.

Another report described how a woman gave birth at a
bike shelter just a few hours after the quake hit.

According to the People's Daily newspaper, fire-fighters dug out a mother
holding her baby in her arms from the rubble. She survived, but her baby sadly
died.

Tremors have been felt in neighbouring provinces and in the provincial
capital city of Chengdu. Users of Weibo, China's microblogging service, have
posted images of damaged buildings and described scenes of panic as residents
rushed outside.
Lushan was hit just after 8am local
time
A resident in Chengdu said he was on the 13th floor of a building when he
felt the quake. The building shook for about 20 seconds and he saw tiles fall
from nearby buildings.

Local seismologists registered the quake at magnitude 7.0 while the US
Geological Survey (USGS) put it at 6.6.

The USGS said "significant" casualties were likely and "extensive damage is
probable and disaster is likely widespread".

"Past events with this alert level have required a national or
international-level response," it added.
Collapsed houses on a road leading from Ya'an
city to Luzhou county
A Chinese General, flying over one area in a helicopter, told local media
that as many as 50 percent of buildings in one area had collapsed.

China's new Premiere Li Keqiang is flying to the region to survey the damage.
The quake is the first big test for the new Chinese leadership. Their ability to
respond to it is likely to be scrutinised on an ever growing social media
forum.

The epicentre is close to the location of the 2008 earthquake which killed
68,000 people. That quake had a greater magnitude of 7.9 but its epicentre was
further underground.
Rescuers try to remove rocks blocking a road
in Lushan county
The 2008 disaster destroyed large swathes of the province along with areas of
neighbouring Shaanxi and Gansu. The government faced significant criticism for
allowing badly constructed buildings to be erected and for covering up their
failings.

International offers of assistance have already been received.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague sent the condolences of the
nation.
An aerial view of damaged houses Lushan
county
Mr Hague said: "Today's events will no doubt bring back terrible memories of
the catastrophic earthquake in the same province in 2008.

"My thoughts are also with the Chinese authorities and the emergency services
as they continue their rescue efforts. We are in contact with local authorities
through our Consulate-General in Chongqing and will continue to follow the
situation closely."

The Russian President Vladimir Putin sent China’s President Xi Jinping a
telegram expressing his condolences and offering help.

Twin tremors in neighbouring Yunnan province last September triggered
landslides that left at least 80 people dead.

A 5.5 magnitude quake in Yunnan last June killed four people and injured more
than 100.

Another 5.4 tremor the year before near the border with Burma left 25 people
dead and injured 250.
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latest news, 200 dead and 7000 injured.