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150 dead as massive earthquake hits China
August 3, 2014, 12:52 pm

This photo taken by cellphone on Aug. 3, 2014 shows people standing on a damaged house after an earthquake in Ludian County of Zhaotong City in southwest China's Yunnan Province [Xinhua]

This photo taken by cellphone on Aug. 3, 2014 shows people standing on a damaged house after an earthquake in Ludian County of Zhaotong City in southwest China’s Yunnan Province [Xinhua]

At least 150 people were killed after a 6.5-magnitude earthquake jolted southwest China’s Yunnan Province Sunday afternoon, China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported even as police and paramilitary officers scrambled to the area.

The strong quake hit at 4:30 pm (Beijing Time) with a depth of 12 km. The epicenter of the quake was in Longtoushan township, 23 km southwest of the county seat of Ludian, Zhaotong City. Ludian has a population of 265,900 in its seven townships.

Electricity was cut and telecommunications services were hit, Chinese state media quoted local residents as saying.

China’s civil affairs officials are sending makeshift tents, folding beds, quilts and warm clothes to the quake-hit region.

The quake prone zone was affected by a 5.7-magnitude in 2012 that killed over 80 and injured more than 800 people.

In 1974, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake in the same town caused over 1400 deaths.

A 30-member working team has rushed to the epicenter and will evaluate the situation, local media reports said.

 

Source: Agencies