113 Dead, 2,600 Injured in China Earthquake

April 20, 2013

An aerial view shows houses damaged after a strong earthquake in Lushan county, Ya'an, Sichuan province, Apr. 20, 2013.

Chinese state media say the death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the western region of Sichuan Saturday morning has climbed to at least 113 people, with more than 2,600 injured.

China's official Xinhua news agency said that the death toll could rise as search and rescue teams make their way into affected areas.

State media say hard-hit parts of Lushan county remain unreachable by road, with phone services cut off.  Aerial photos released by China's military and aired on state television showed individual houses in ruins and some stretches of the county seat and villages flattened into rubble.

China's premier, Li Keqiang, has flown to the region to oversee relief efforts. 

Sichuan's provincial seismological bureau put the strength of the quake at 7.0, while the U.S. Geological Survey said it was 6.6 magnitude, which is capable of causing severe damage.  The quake occurred at a depth of 12 kilometers.

Xinhua said the quake also rattled buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu, 115 kilometers to the east.

A strong earthquake struck Sichuan in 2008, killing more than 70,000 people.

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Na wah!!! Hmmmm