BEIJING: At least 102 people were killed while about 2,200 others sustained injuries in a massive 6.6 magnitude earthquake that hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Saturday.
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at 8.02 am in Lushan County near Ya’an city and the epicentre had a depth of 12 km.
The official Xinhua news agency said 102 people had been confirmed dead with more than 2,200 injured 147 of them seriously.
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang said that all efforts must be put into rescuing victims to limit the death toll as much as possible. Li was on his way to Ya’an, state media said.
Xinhua said 2,000 troops were heading to the area to help with rescue efforts. State television CCTV said only emergency vehicles were being allowed into Ya’an, though Chengdu airport had reopened.
Most of the deaths were concentrated in Lushan, where water and electricity were cut off.
DND
