At least four dead in China by earthquake of magnitude 6.1

At least four people were killed and 14 injured in a 6.1-magnitude earthquake followed by a less powerful aftershock in Sichuan province in southwestern China. Chinastate television said.

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Videos posted online by local media showed rockslides, debris on roads or roofs falling to the ground.

The 6.1-magnitude quake in Lushan township was followed three minutes later by a 4.5-magnitude quake in neighboring Baoxing township, the Earthquake Network Center of China (CENC).

These are mountainous rural areas, about 100 km west of the provincial capital Chengdu.

The estimated depth of the two earthquakes is 17 and 18 kilometers, according to the CENC.

The latest balance shows “four dead and 14 injured” who were “transferred to hospitals” in the region, reported CCTV public television.

Around 4,500 doctors, firefighters, soldiers, first responders and police officers were deployed “for search and rescue operations, care for the wounded, unblocking roads and transporting inhabitants to a safe place,” the channel said.

The tremor was felt in several cities in the province, such as Chengdu, according to comments posted by netizens on the Weibo social network.

“I went down the six floors of my office at full speed. I have the impression that the earthquake was really powerful! published a user of the social network.

In the epicenter area, several buildings were damaged but, so far, the authorities have not reported any collapse, according to Sichuan firefighters on Weibo.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) evaluated the magnitude of the earthquake at 5.9, with an epicenter 10 km deep.

Sichuan, a very mountainous region known for its panda reserves, usually experiences earthquakes of different intensities several times a month.

In September, three people died in this province during a shallow earthquake and at least 10,000 were displaced.

In May 2008, another 7.9-magnitude earthquake left 87,000 dead or missing in Sichuan.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.