BEIJING – INTERNATIONAL NEWS – A 6.3 magnitude quake hit southwestern China on Sunday afternoon, when many people would have been at home. Thousands of buildings have been razed and hundreds of people killed. Nearly two thousand people have been injured. Many arrived at local hospitals for treatment.
A major rescue operation is underway.
Yunan province is one of China’s most quake-prone regions.
The epicentre was here in Yunan’s Ludian county, a mountainous and remote area. Communications have been seriously affected. Electricity supplies have been cut and roads blocked by landslides.
Roads Blocked Death Toll Climbing
Survivor recalls escape from home as China earthquake death toll rises to 398 by Reuters
A local resident who survived an earthquake in a remote region in southwest China described how he was nearly buried by the rubble of his home on Monday (August 4). The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck around 4:30 p.m. (0830 GMT) on Sunday afternoon in a remote area of Yunnan Province, killing at least 398 and injuring over 1800.
In an interview with state media Chen Zehu described ,the moments immediately after the quake, which caused thousands of buildings, including a school, to collapse. He said everything shook seven or eight times. He ran out of the building and the house collapsed almost as soon as he got out. Communications have been seriously affected and roads connecting the most affected regions have been blocked by rocks that fell down after the quake.
Local authorities deployed explosive devices to break the boulders blocking roads to allow rescue crews and equipment to get to the scene.
Emergency crews have been forced to carry rescue equipment on foot. A large-scale relief operation is underway.
Thousands of tents, beds and coats are on their way to the disaster area.
