Nearly 400 killed in China quake

Beijing, Aug 4:

today rushed thousands of soldiers, police and firefighters as well as eight planes to its southwestern Yunnan province, which was devastated by a strong 6.5-magnitude

that killed nearly 400 people.

The death toll from yesterday's earthquake said to be the most powerful to hit the quake-vulnerable province in the past 14 years today stood at 398 with some people still missing. The strong shallow quake has affected about 1.08 million others in Zhaotong City and Qujing City with about 1,801 injured.

The quake prompted an emergency evacuation of about 230,000 people, said the Yunnan Civil Affairs Department. Nearly 80,000 houses had collapsed and 124,000 others were seriously damaged, the department said.

The deaths included 319 in Ludian County, 66 in Qiaojia County, one in Zhaoyang District and 12 in Huize County. Three are missing in Qiaojia. Rescuers are racing against time to save lives after the quake struck at 4:30 pm yesterday at a depth of 12 kms.

The epicentre is in Longtoushan Township, Ludian County. The Chinese government dispatched 4,000 troops to conduct relief. Premier Li Keqiang has reached the quake areas to supervise relief. Yunnan has sent 7,000 rescuers, including 5,000 soldiers, police officers and firefighters, to the quake-hit areas in Zhaotong City and Qujing City.

The rescue work has been hampered by continuous heavy rain which has disrupted traffic, lowered temperatures in the remote area, and made food and medicine shortages even more acute. Thundershowers and downpours are expected in Ludian County, one of the worst-hit regions, over the next four days, and temperatures could drop to 17 degrees centigrade at night.

Rescuers are evacuating residents threatened by a quake lake, which was formed in Jiangbian Village, Zhixiang Township of Huize County and has inundated 20 village houses. The water level of the lake is surging rapidly at a speed of one metre per hour.

The lake was formed following a landslide that occurred in the upper reaches of the Hongshiyan hydropower station, which is under construction. Many survivors in Ludian County seat were seen sitting along the muddy roads waiting for food and medication. Some half-naked survivors were trembling in the rain.

PTI