Nearly 400 people are feared dead after a rapid series of strong earthquakes hit a poor, mountainous area in Western China’s Qinghai province early today, according to the country’s state-run media. CNN reports that the quake had a magnitude of 6.9 as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey, though The New York Times reports that China’s earthquake agency registered a 7.1. It struck at 7:49 a.m. local time, when many citizens were still at home and schools were beginning the day. The area also suffered several strong aftershocks – one of magnitude 5.8 – all within hours of the first temblor.
At least 10,000 others were injured, and many victims, including school children, were buried under debris. Rescuers were struggling to clear debris with their hands to save the trapped victims.
The epicenter was located in remote and rugged terrain, about 150 miles northwest of Qamdo, Tibet. Qinghai borders the autonomous regions of Tibet and Xingjiang and the provinces of Gansu and Sichuan.
Karsum Nyima, deputy director of news at local Yushu TV, told the Xinhua news agency that most of the houses in the area were made of wood with earthen walls. He said some had come tumbling down, including a Buddhist pagoda in a park. The quakes “have toppled houses, temples, gas stations and electric poles, triggered landslides, damaged roads, cut power supplies and disrupted telecommunications,” Xinhua said. “A reservoir was also cracked, where workers are trying to prevent the outflow of water.”
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