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Earthquake kills hundreds of people in south-west China Earthquake kills hundreds of people in south-west China
(about 2 hours later)
More than 220 people have died and at least 1,400 were injured when an earthquake struck south-west China on Sunday, toppling homes and sending residents fleeing into the streets, state broadcaster CCTV reported. More than 220 people have died and at least 1,400 have been injured when an earthquake struck south-west China yesterday, toppling homes and sending residents fleeing into the streets, the state broadcaster, CCTV, reported.
A further 181 are missing after the 6.1-magnitude quake hit Ludian county, in a mountainous area about 225 miles (360km) north-east of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, state news agency Xinhua reported. State media said the tremor was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan. A further 181 are missing after the 6.1-magnitude quake hit Ludian county, in a mountainous area about 225 miles north-east of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, state news agency Xinhua reported. State media said the tremor was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan.
Photographs showed rescuers digging through rubble and rushing the injured to hospital. But teams were still trying to reach some of the remoter areas such as Longtoushan township, the epicentre of the quake. Photographs showed rescuers digging through rubble and taking the injured to hospital. Teams were last night still trying to reach some of the remoter areas such as Longtoushan township, the epicentre of the quake.
One resident there, who gave his surname as He, said the quake was "very scary", adding: "All houses in the town have been damaged by the earthquake, and at least two thirds of them so badly damaged that they could not be used anymore. One resident from Longquan village said: "All houses in the town have been damaged by the earthquake and at least two thirds of them so badly that they could not be used anymore.
"Every few minutes there are people being carried away from the rubble.""Every few minutes there are people being carried away from the rubble."
He, from Longquan village, said most of the rescue work was being done by residents as outside teams had yet to reach them. The road was blocked and some mobile communications were down, added He, who works for a telecoms firm. The resident, who works for a telecoms firm , added: that most of the rescue work was being done by residents as outside teams had yet to reach them. The road was blocked and some mobile communications were down, he said.
Ma Liya , who lives in Zhaotong, about 14 miles from Longtoushan, told Xinhua that the streets there were like a "battlefield after bombardment. The aftermath is much worse than what happened after the quake two years ago. I have never felt such strong tremors before. What I can see are all ruins." Ma Liya, who lives in Zhaotong, the county seat of Ludian, 14 miles (23km) from Longtoushan, told Xinhua that the streets there were like a "battlefield after bombardment". "The aftermath is much, much worse than what happened after the quake two years ago," Ma said. "I have never felt such strong tremors before. What I can see are all ruins."In September 2012, quakes in the region claimed 81 lives and injured 821.
In September 2012, quakes in the region claimed 81 lives and injured 821. The owner of a restaurant 19 miles away from Longtoushan, who gave her name as Ms Zhang, added: "I was on a hillside when the earthquake happened. The ground below me was shaking and I was scared to death."
The owner of a restaurant 19 miles away Longtoushan, who gave her name as Ms Zhang, added: "I was on a hillside when the earthquake happened. The ground below me was shaking and I was scared to death. "I heard that many people had died in Longtoushan and lots of houses collapsed. Our house is an old one. Though it has not collapsed, there are cracks on the wall."The quake struck at 4.30pm local time at a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.
"I heard that many people had died in Longtoushan and lots of houses collapsed. Our house is an old one. Though it has not collapsed, there are cracks on the wall."
The quake struck at 4.30pm local time at a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.
Video shown by state broadcaster CCTV showed people rushing into the street as buildings shook. But one hotel employee in Zhaotong said: "I was inside when the building started shaking. I was so scared I didn't dare to run outside."Video shown by state broadcaster CCTV showed people rushing into the street as buildings shook. But one hotel employee in Zhaotong said: "I was inside when the building started shaking. I was so scared I didn't dare to run outside."
An official at the health bureau said more than 20 medics from Zhaotong had already arrived and were working with local doctors to treat the injured, adding that more doctors and nurses from Kunming and counties around Ludian were on their way. An official at the health bureau said more than 20 medical professionals from Zhaotong had already arrived and were working with local doctors to treat the injured, adding that Mmore doctors and nurses from Kunming and counties around Ludian were on their way.
A person who answered the phone at the People's Hospital building, which was not damaged by the quake, said it was treating 116 of the injured, most of whom had only minor injuries. Those critically injured had been transferred to Zhaotong People's Hospital, she added. A person who answered the phone at the People's Hospital, which was not damaged by the quake, said it was treating 116 of the injured patients, most of whom had only minor injuries. Those critically injured had mostly been transferred to Zhaotong People's Hospital, she added.
The Sina news portal reported that a volunteer who had reached Longtoushan said the quake victims were being placed in a local square, and many of the injured evacuated to hospitals.The Sina news portal reported that a volunteer who had reached Longtoushan said the quake victims were being placed in a local square, and many of the injured evacuated to hospitals.
Xinhua said that at least 122 people had died in Ludian, and another 1,300 people there were injured, while in Qiaojia county, 49 were dead, one missing and 102 injured. Xinhua said that at least 122 people had died in Ludian, and another 1,300 people there had been injured, while in Qiaojia county, 49 were dead, one missing and 102 had been injured.
Electricity supplies were cut in some areas and at least one school collapsed, Xinhua added.Electricity supplies were cut in some areas and at least one school collapsed, Xinhua added.
It said 2,500 troops had been dispatched to the disaster zone, in addition to 300 police and firefighters from Zhaotong. Yunnan's fire department posted on its microblog that it was sending 82 vehicles, 445 people and 12 rescue dogs to the disaster zone. It said 2,500 troops had been dispatched to the disaster zone, in addition to 300 police and firefighters from Zhaotong. Yunnan's fire department posted on its microblog that it was sending 82 vehicles, 445 people and 12 rescue dogs to the disaster zone.Heavy rain is forecast throughout the coming week. Xinhua said the government was sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats.CCTV said the quake was the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years. The province has been plagued by deadly earthquakes. In 1970, a 7.7-magnitude quake killed at least 15,000 people. Four years later, a 7.1-magnitude quake killed more than 1,400.
Heavy rain is forecast throughout the coming week. Xinhua said the government was sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats.
CCTV said the quake was the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years. The province has been plagued by deadly earthquakes in the past. In 1970, a 7.7-magnitude quake killed at least 15,000 people. Four years later, a 7.1-magnitude quake killed more than 1,400.
China's deadliest earthquake in recent decades hit Wenchuan, Sichuan, in May 2008, leaving almost 90,000 people dead or missing.China's deadliest earthquake in recent decades hit Wenchuan, Sichuan, in May 2008, leaving almost 90,000 people dead or missing.