China rocked by deadly 6.0 magnitude earthquake – three dead and 88 injured

China earthquake: Country rocked by tremor

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An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck the southwestern province of Sichuan during the early hours of Thursday morning. At least three people were killed and 88 others have been injured, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC).

The epicentre of the earthquake was located about 200km (120 miles) southeast of Chengdu, the provincial capital.

The quake was recorded at 4.33am local time and reached a depth of 10km (6.2 miles)

More than 20,000 homes and other buildings are reported to have suffered damage.

Around 76,000 residents have been evacuated by emergency responders.

Shocking images show the extent of the devastation, with many buildings crumbled to the ground.

Huge piles of debris, including bricks and other building materials, has forced a busy high road to be cordoned off.

Tremors from the quake have been felt more than 200km away from the epicentre, according to testimonies posted on the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

One witness in Gunan, which is located 130km east of the quake, wrote: “Heard rumbling sound and hangers shaking.”

Another person in Chengdu, located 204km north west, wrote: “Felt mild shaking.”

Another individual in the same region added: “Mild, slight lateral shaking for approximately eight seconds.”

Public transport has been affected with several lines being suspended while officials check on the damage

A number of schools in the local area have also been closed for the day.

The Sichuan province is surrounded by seismically active plate tectonic blocks.

In June 2019, a similar earthquake, also with a magnitude of 6.0, killed 12 people and injured 134.

And in 2008, a devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake in the province left 87,000 dead or untraceable.

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China is also located close to the notorious Ring of Fire.

The horseshoe-shaped geological disaster zone, is located in the Pacific Ocean and witnesses around 90 percent of the planet’s earthquakes.

The Ring of Fire stretches 25,000 miles from New Zealand through Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan to Canada and the US West Coast through to South America.
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