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China earthquake death toll rises

China earthquake: Heavy damage and dozens of fatalities in China

A major search and rescue operation has started after a strong earthquake. / China earthquake

The death toll from the earthquake in southwest China’s Sichuan province has risen to 65. More than 200 people were injured, more than 50 seriously, state media reported on Tuesday. More than ten people were still missing. The tremors on Monday had reached a magnitude of 6.8. The districts of Luding, Kangding, Jiulong, Yajiang and Danba, a good 200 kilometers southwest of the provincial capital Chengdu, were particularly affected.

More than 250 houses were destroyed. Landslides also occurred. Many roads were still blocked on Tuesday. Electricity, water and communications were also cut off. A large-scale search and rescue operation has begun. Thousands of helpers participated in the rescue work. The authorities also mobilized units of the People’s Liberation Army.

Government provides grants / China earthquake

There were several aftershocks, one of which reached magnitude 4.2. Communication with the outside world was disrupted for 35,000 households, as reported by the “Volkszeitung”. More than 40,000 people were without power. The rescue forces were supported by transport helicopters and drones for aerial reconnaissance. Heavy equipment was also used to clear the area.

The Ministry of Finance in Beijing and the provincial government each provided 50 million yuan, the equivalent of 7.23 million euros, in financial aid, state media reported.

In 2008, Sichuan Province was hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. At that time, more than 80,000 people died. Sichuan lies at the edge of the thrust zone of the Indian tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate. Because of the plate movements, the province is particularly at risk of earthquakes.

China Earthquake: Death toll rises to 65

At least 65 people died in the severe earthquake in the Chinese province of Sichuan, and many are still missing. Thousands of helpers are on duty, heavy rainfall could hamper the rescue work.

After the severe earthquake in the Chinese province of Sichuan, the death toll has risen to at least 65, according to state media. Of the nearly 250 injured, dozens are in critical condition, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

More than 6,500 helpers were sent to the affected province of Sichuan. The rescue workers are trying to get to more than 200 people who are cut off from the outside world in the earthquake area. Emergency services are trying to clear buried streets and restore the supply of electricity and water. Food should also be brought to the disaster region.

Rainfall could hamper rescue

Heavy rains are expected there in the coming days, which could hamper rescue and search efforts. Experts warn of the dangers of river courses that were dammed in several places by the quake. The earthquake on Monday afternoon (local time) was 6.8, the strongest in the southwestern province since 2017.

According to the Chinese earthquake center, the epicenter was in the city of Luding, around 230 kilometers southwest of the provincial capital Chengdu. A few minutes later there was a 4.2 magnitude aftershock near the city of Yaan.

Province suffers from frequent earthquakes

The tremor was also felt in the provincial capital of Chengdu, where millions of people are currently stuck in their homes under a strict corona lockdown. Earthquakes are relatively common in Sichuan Province, especially in the mountains to the west.

An August 2017 earthquake that struck Aba Prefecture and reached a magnitude of 7.0 killed more than a hundred people and injured thousands. The strongest earthquake in Sichuan since records began occurred in May 2008. At that time, a magnitude of 8.0 was recorded.

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