An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale hit southwestern China on Monday, according to the US Geological Survey. (USGS). At least 46 people were killed, according to the latest state media report.
The earthquake was recorded 43 kilometers southeast of the city of Kangding, in Sichuan province, at a depth of 10 kilometers, the USGS said.
Notable earthquake, preliminary information: M 6.6 – 43 km SE of Kangding, China https://t.co/0Fd9ENrc7z
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Bevingen) September 5, 2022
According to state television channel CCTV, several towns in Sichuan province are reporting “serious damage” to homes “due to landslides”, with telecommunications disrupted in some areas.
The earthquake was “strongly” felt in the nearby city of Chengdu, a resident told AFP. “Some of my neighbors on the ground floor said they felt the earthquake very clearly.”
Famous for its panda reserves, the mountainous province of Sichuan borders the Tibetan Plateau, where the tectonic plates converge and is regularly hit by earthquakes.
More than 500 members of the emergency team have been sent to the region, state Xinhua news agency reported.
live #UPDATES: Strong earthquake hits SW China #Sichuan
– The Chinese government has activated its third higher earthquake relief aid.
– Several “green passes” have been opened on the Sichuan highway to help rescue workers traveling to Luding County. https://t.co/uknv3BTyYK pic.twitter.com/7T3tbAK3B7— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) September 5, 2022
#BREAK An explosion took place Monday near the Russian embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul, Al Jazeera reports.
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) September 5, 2022
In June, at least four people were killed and dozens injured after two earthquakes hit southwestern China.
At that time, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck a sparsely populated area about 100 kilometers west of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, with a population of 21 million.
Three minutes later, a second magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck an adjacent region, recording deaths and injuries.
An earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale in 2008 in Wenchuan County in Sichuan killed tens of thousands of people and caused massive damage.
News updated at 18.26
Source: DN
