Earthquakes in China killed 400 people

In the early morning of April 14, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake occurred in Yushu County, Qinghai Province, China, killing at least 400 people.

CCTV said in addition to the above deaths, about 10,000 people were injured. The earthquake occurred at 8am local time. Many people were buried in ruins because of collapsed houses.

About 700 soldiers are trying to find people trapped in collapsed houses and more than 5,000 rescue workers, including health workers, are being sent to the disaster area.

House collapsed in earthquake in Thanh Hai.Photo: Xinhua.

"Our primary mission is to save the students. The school is always a gathering place for many people," said Kang Zifu, a military officer involved in rescue in Yushu.

More than 85% of houses near the epicenter in the town of Jiegu collapsed. Many roads were destroyed or blocked by landslides. Communication lines are also interrupted. The damaged road system is hindering rescue efforts.

China's central television said the number of casualties could continue to increase as rescue workers dug up rubble to find people trapped inside.

Police officer Shi Huajie, a police officer who participated in the rescue effort, said many elementary students were buried but the exact number was unknown. "We mainly have to use our hands to clean up the rubble because there are no machines, nor medical equipment," Shi said.

People fled to the road immediately after the first tremor. "In the blink of an eye, the house collapsed. The earthquake was horrifying. People rushed to the street, stood in front of their houses and tried to find relatives," AP quoted Karsum Nyima, deputy head of the local television station. said.

The BBC said many people fled the town to go to the mountains for fear of a nearby dam. Chinese officials are trying to remove reserves after a crack appears on the dam.

Relief activities for survivors are being urgently deployed. 5,000 tents and 100,000 thick coats and warm blankets are being transferred to the disaster area to help people cope with cold winds and temperatures of about 6 degrees Celsius.

At least three aftershocks occur after the earthquake above, the strongest aftershock has a magnitude of 6.3 Richter and takes place only after 36 minutes.

According to AFP, China's mountainous and remote areas, home to most Mongols and Tibetans, often have earthquakes. In 2008, a 8.2 magnitude earthquake in nearby Sichuan province killed or lost 87,000 people.

Recent strong earthquakes:

February 2010: 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile killed at least 450 people, warning tsunamis in many countries around the world

1/2010: About 230,000 people died in earthquakes of 7.0 degrees in Haiti.

4/2009: 6.3-magnitude earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, more than 300 people were killed.

5/2008: 7.8 Richter earthquake in Sichuan, China killed 87,000 people.

10/2005: Pakistan is hit by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake, 73,000 people are killed.