Western China earthquake killed at least 600 people by Zuzana Zelenakova

At least 600 people dead and about 10.000 injured, that is the result of the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit mountainous region in western China on Wednesday. Qinghai province is mostly inhabited by Tibetan population. Most of the people living in the vicinity of the epicentre are homeles now. More than 85 percent of homes was destroyed in the city of Jiegu, the biggest town in the area located about 20 miles (32 kilometres) from the epicentre. "In a flash, the houses went down. It was a terrible earthquake," said Karsum Nyima from the local television station. "Everybody is out on the streets, standing in front of their houses, trying to find their family members." Res! cue efforts focused mainly on several collapsed schools, where at least 66 students and 10 teachers died. Reportedly, 70 percent of schools in Yushu county in southern Qinghai were destroyed in the quake. Rescuers have struggles with limited equipmet according to the local militar official Shi Huajie. “The difficulty we face is that we don't have any excavators. Many of the people have been buried and our soldiers are trying to pull them out with human labor,“ he said.“It is very difficult to save people with our bare hands.“ Rescue teams of about 5.000 soldiers and medics were sent to the area. Survivors were forced to wait for help outside in almost freezing temperatures, they received five thousand tents, 100.000 thick coats and blankets as the province´s government informed. According to the officials at the China Earthquake Networks Centre the quake was followed by at least 18 aftershocks and more reaching magnitude 6 are likely to occur th! ese days. The deadliest eartquake in history of modern China h! it Sichu an province in 2008. Magnitude 7.9 earthquake killed almost 90.000 people.

related story (sgx17013): http://www.france24.com/en/20100414-strong-quake-kills-dozen...

by Zuzana Zelenakova for Cantell TV (http://cantell.tv)

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