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China earthquake prompts major search and rescue mission China earthquake prompts huge search and rescue mission
(35 minutes later)
China has mounted a major search and rescue operation in the south-western province of Yunnan after an earthquake killed at least 398 people and injured more than 1,000 at the weekend. China has mounted a huge search and rescue operation in the south-western province of Yunnan after an earthquake killed at least 398 people and injured more than 1,000 at the weekend.
The 6.1-magnitude quake hit Ludian county at about 4.30pm (0930 BST) on Sunday, the state news agency Xinhua reported, razing homes and sent residents fleeing into the streets. Ludian is a mountainous area about 225 miles north-east of Yunnan's capital Kunming. State media said the quake was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan. The 6.1-magnitude quake hit Ludian county at about 4.30pm (09.30 BST) on Sunday, the state news agency Xinhua reported, razing homes and sent residents fleeing into the streets. Ludian is a mountainous area about 225 miles north-east of the capital Kunming. State media said the quake was felt in the neighbouring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan.
Torrential downpours, low temperatures and poor transport infrastructure have left many survivors shivering on roadsides.Torrential downpours, low temperatures and poor transport infrastructure have left many survivors shivering on roadsides.
"The blocked roads and the continuous downpours have made some disaster areas inaccessible for heavy relief vehicles," Liu Jianhua, a senior local official, told Xinhua."The blocked roads and the continuous downpours have made some disaster areas inaccessible for heavy relief vehicles," Liu Jianhua, a senior local official, told Xinhua.
The news agency said 2,500 troops had been dispatched to the area, in addition to 300 police and firefighters from Zhaotong. Yunnan's fire department posted on its microblog that it was dispatching 82 vehicles, 445 people and 12 rescue dogs.The news agency said 2,500 troops had been dispatched to the area, in addition to 300 police and firefighters from Zhaotong. Yunnan's fire department posted on its microblog that it was dispatching 82 vehicles, 445 people and 12 rescue dogs.
Xinhua said the government was also sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats, but that officials were having difficulty getting them to affected families.Xinhua said the government was also sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats, but that officials were having difficulty getting them to affected families.
The rain is expected to last four more days.The rain is expected to last four more days.
The Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, landed in Yunnan on Monday to visit the disaster zone and help coordinate the relief effort. The Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, landed in Yunnan on Monday to visit the disaster zone and help coordinate the relief effort.
Xinhua and the state broadcaster CCTV said that 398 people had been killed, citing rescuers. CCTV said 1,891 people had been injured, three were missing and 29,400 had been evacuated. The death toll was expected to rise.Xinhua and the state broadcaster CCTV said that 398 people had been killed, citing rescuers. CCTV said 1,891 people had been injured, three were missing and 29,400 had been evacuated. The death toll was expected to rise.
Photographs showed rescuers digging through rubble and taking the injured to hospital. Teams were still trying to reach some of the more remote areas such as Longtoushan township, the epicentre of the quake.Photographs showed rescuers digging through rubble and taking the injured to hospital. Teams were still trying to reach some of the more remote areas such as Longtoushan township, the epicentre of the quake.
"The critically injured patients keep coming, but we are unable to carry out operations for many of them," a doctor working in a makeshift medical tent in Ludian told state media. "It is impossible to deal with severe injuries such as intracranial hemorrhage in such conditions." "The critically injured patients keep coming, but we are unable to carry out operations for many of them," a doctor working in a makeshift medical tent in Ludian told state media. "It is impossible to deal with severe injuries such as intracranial haemorrhage in such conditions."
Rescue workers are also evacuating residents from around a "quake lake" that formed near the construction site of a hydroelectric dam. The water level was rising at a metre an hour and has already submerged 20 homes in Huize county, just south of Ludian, Xinhua said. About 1,500 people have been evacuated from the area.Rescue workers are also evacuating residents from around a "quake lake" that formed near the construction site of a hydroelectric dam. The water level was rising at a metre an hour and has already submerged 20 homes in Huize county, just south of Ludian, Xinhua said. About 1,500 people have been evacuated from the area.
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. 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 any more. Every few minutes there are people being carried away from the rubble."
"Every few minutes there are people being carried away from the rubble."
The resident, who works for a telecoms firm, said that most of the rescue work was being done by residents, because teams from elsewhere had yet to arrive. The road was blocked and some mobile communications were down, he said.The resident, who works for a telecoms firm, said that most of the rescue work was being done by residents, because teams from elsewhere had yet to arrive. The road was blocked and some mobile communications were down, he said.
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". Ma Liya, who lives in Zhaotong, the county seat of Ludian, 14 miles 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." Earthquakes in the region claimed 81 lives and injured 821 people in September 2012."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." Earthquakes in the region claimed 81 lives and injured 821 people in September 2012.
The owner of a restaurant 19 miles away from Longtoushan, who gave her name as Ms Zhang, said: "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 from Longtoushan, who gave her name as Ms Zhang, said: "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's epicentre was 6.2 miles below the surface, 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's epicentre was 6.2 miles below the surface, according to the US Geological Survey.
Video shown by CCTV showed people rushing into the streets as buildings shook.Video shown by CCTV showed people rushing into the streets as buildings shook.
An health bureau official said more than 20 medical professionals 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. A health bureau official said more than 20 medical professionals 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.
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 said. A woman 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 said.
Most of the deaths were in Zhaotong city, Xinhua said. Another 10 people were killed in Quijing city. Electricity supplies were cut in some areas and at least one school collapsed.Most of the deaths were in Zhaotong city, Xinhua said. Another 10 people were killed in Quijing city. Electricity supplies were cut in some areas and at least one school collapsed.
The UN secretary, general, Ban Ki-moon, has offered his condolences to people effected by the quake. In a statement, he said he was "saddened by the loss of life, and the damage to homes and infrastructure". The UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has offered his condolences to people affected by the quake. He said he was "saddened by the loss of life, and the damage to homes and infrastructure".
CCTV said the earthquake was the strongest to hit Yunnan, which has suffered many deadly quakes, in 14 years. In 1970, a 7.7-magnitude quake killed at least 15,000 people, and four years later, a 7.1-magnitude event killed more than 1,400.CCTV said the earthquake was the strongest to hit Yunnan, which has suffered many deadly quakes, in 14 years. In 1970, a 7.7-magnitude quake killed at least 15,000 people, and four years later, a 7.1-magnitude event killed more than 1,400.
China's deadliest earthquake in recent decades hit Wenchuan in Sichuan province in May 2008, leaving almost 90,000 people dead or missing.China's deadliest earthquake in recent decades hit Wenchuan in Sichuan province in May 2008, leaving almost 90,000 people dead or missing.