China's Qinghai province was hit with a magnitude 6.9 earthquake Wednesday morning, killing at least 400 and injuring more than 10,000 as rescue efforts continue.The initial quake was centered in the southern part of the mountainous province, near the Tibetan border in Yushu County. It was followed by multiple aftershocks, and rescue efforts have been hampered by telecommunications issues as phone lines in the area have been affected.
In an interview with state television broadcaster CCTV, which was reprinted in an April 14 Associated Press (AP) report, local news deputy Karsum Nyima described the disaster.
"In a flash, the houses went down. It was a terrible earthquake," he said. "In a small park, there is a Buddhist tower and the top of the tower fell off. ... Everybody is out on the streets, standing in front of their houses, trying to find their family members."
Michael Bristow of BBC News reported that soldiers, doctors, and other emergency personnel had already been deployed into the remote area, and that "the rescue effort seems to have gotten up and running quite quickly."
The original earthquake's epicenter was located 235 miles south-southeast of Golmud, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and was located at a depth of six miles. Ten minutes later, the aftershocks began, with a magnitude 5.3 quake being followed in close proximity by a 5.2 temblor. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake was also reported later in the morning.
This is the latest in a series of strong earthquakes to occur within the last month. Last week, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia, and only a few days before that, a 7.2 magnitude quake effected Mexico and parts of the western United States.
Source:
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1849560/400_dead_as_earthquake_rocks_china/index.html
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