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| Earthquake Kills Hundreds in Southwest China | Earthquake Kills Hundreds in Southwest China |
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| BEIJING — A powerful earthquake that rocked a mountainous region of southwest China on Sunday killed at least 367 people and injured more than 1,800 others, according to the state news media. With dozens of people reported missing on Sunday night, the death toll was expected to rise. | BEIJING — A powerful earthquake that rocked a mountainous region of southwest China on Sunday killed at least 367 people and injured more than 1,800 others, according to the state news media. With dozens of people reported missing on Sunday night, the death toll was expected to rise. |
| The earthquake, which struck at 4:30 p.m. with a preliminary reported magnitude of 6.5, was centered in Ludian County in Yunnan Province but was also felt in two adjacent provinces, according to the official news agency Xinhua. | The earthquake, which struck at 4:30 p.m. with a preliminary reported magnitude of 6.5, was centered in Ludian County in Yunnan Province but was also felt in two adjacent provinces, according to the official news agency Xinhua. |
| Residents reached by cellphone on Sunday night said that a series of aftershocks continued to jolt the region and that power remained cut off. | Residents reached by cellphone on Sunday night said that a series of aftershocks continued to jolt the region and that power remained cut off. |
| Initial news media reports said 12,000 homes had been destroyed and about 30,000 had been damaged, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless amid rainfall that was expected to continue for days. The main road leading to the most heavily affected area was initially blocked by a landslide but had been cleared by late Sunday, according to the state news media. | Initial news media reports said 12,000 homes had been destroyed and about 30,000 had been damaged, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless amid rainfall that was expected to continue for days. The main road leading to the most heavily affected area was initially blocked by a landslide but had been cleared by late Sunday, according to the state news media. |
| Xinhua said officials from the closest city, Zhaotong, had sent more than 600 police officers and rescue workers and 12 sniffer dogs to the areas hit hardest. | Xinhua said officials from the closest city, Zhaotong, had sent more than 600 police officers and rescue workers and 12 sniffer dogs to the areas hit hardest. |
| Most of the deaths were in Zhaotong, Xinhua said, with a smaller number reported in the city of Quijing. | Most of the deaths were in Zhaotong, Xinhua said, with a smaller number reported in the city of Quijing. |
| Zhang Fang, 20, a resident of Longtoushan, a village at the earthquake’s epicenter, said she had been cooking potatoes in her family’s mud-brick kitchen when the quake struck. | Zhang Fang, 20, a resident of Longtoushan, a village at the earthquake’s epicenter, said she had been cooking potatoes in her family’s mud-brick kitchen when the quake struck. |
| “I just fell to the ground and stayed there until the shaking stopped, and then I cried and cried,” Ms. Zhang said, speaking by cellphone from Longtoushan after emerging from her house unscathed. | “I just fell to the ground and stayed there until the shaking stopped, and then I cried and cried,” Ms. Zhang said, speaking by cellphone from Longtoushan after emerging from her house unscathed. |
| She said most of the buildings in her village were flattened, including an elementary school where a number of students were said to have been trapped. | She said most of the buildings in her village were flattened, including an elementary school where a number of students were said to have been trapped. |
| “The school buildings here are not of good quality,” Ms. Zhang said. | “The school buildings here are not of good quality,” Ms. Zhang said. |
| Ludian County, an isolated, seismically active region with a population of 430,000, is home to a mix of ethnic groups, including members of the Miao, Zhuang and Bai minorities. It is among the poorest regions in the country. | Ludian County, an isolated, seismically active region with a population of 430,000, is home to a mix of ethnic groups, including members of the Miao, Zhuang and Bai minorities. It is among the poorest regions in the country. |
| In September 2012, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit the same area, killing 81 people and injuring 821. In the 1970s, two strong earthquakes killed more than 15,000 people in the province. | In September 2012, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit the same area, killing 81 people and injuring 821. In the 1970s, two strong earthquakes killed more than 15,000 people in the province. |
| In 2008, the government was severely criticized for responding too slowly to a powerful earthquake in Sichuan Province that killed more than 70,000 people. When a series of earthquakes hit Gansu Province in northwestern China in 2013, Chinese officials and government organizations rushed to the affected area to offer assistance and comfort. | In 2008, the government was severely criticized for responding too slowly to a powerful earthquake in Sichuan Province that killed more than 70,000 people. When a series of earthquakes hit Gansu Province in northwestern China in 2013, Chinese officials and government organizations rushed to the affected area to offer assistance and comfort. |
| The 2008 earthquake also raised the issue of the substandard construction of many schools and other buildings that collapsed. | The 2008 earthquake also raised the issue of the substandard construction of many schools and other buildings that collapsed. |
| On Sunday, Li Fei, 20, a recent high school graduate from Xiaochong village, said she had been on her way home from a friend’s wedding when the quake hit. | |
| “The shaking seemed to last forever,” said Ms. Li, who added that she had experienced five previous earthquakes in her village, although none compared to the force of the quake on Sunday. | “The shaking seemed to last forever,” said Ms. Li, who added that she had experienced five previous earthquakes in her village, although none compared to the force of the quake on Sunday. |
| Speaking by cellphone and sitting outside in the rain, she said most of the houses on the hills that rise above her village had collapsed. Her home, built partly with brick, was still standing, but she said she and her father were too afraid to go back inside. | Speaking by cellphone and sitting outside in the rain, she said most of the houses on the hills that rise above her village had collapsed. Her home, built partly with brick, was still standing, but she said she and her father were too afraid to go back inside. |
| “There are constant aftershocks,” she said. “The power is down, it’s all dark outside, and I’m really scared.” | “There are constant aftershocks,” she said. “The power is down, it’s all dark outside, and I’m really scared.” |