Nearly 200 people were killed and 11,500 others injured in the devastating 7-magnitude earthquake in southwest China, which continued to be rocked by hundreds of aftershocks on Sunday, while relief teams made frantic efforts to save hundreds trapped under tonnes of rubble.
After suffering the shallow quake yesterday, the Lushan county battered by over 1,170 tremors. The severest aftershocks measured as high as 5.4 magnitude, jolting the area badly from the depth of 17 kms.
Death toll continue to mount throughout the day as relief teams spread to remote areas and sifted though the rubble to rescue people trapped under the debris.
About 186 bodies were recovered and 21 people were listed as missing. About 11,500 people were injured, according to officials.
The quake in Sichuan province, second in five years, sparked off a debate whether there should be high density human settlements in the areas as it is very prone to recurring quakes.
Sichuan is located on the foothills of Tibetan plateau and known to be prone to heavy earthquakes as it sits right over the place where the tectonic Euroasian and Indian plates meet, often colliding with huge force.
Over 90,000 people were killed in 2008 quake in the province which virtually ravaged the area. Its neighbouring province, Qinghai witnessed yet another heavy quake in 2010, causing several deaths and massive destruction.
Politically yesterday's earthquake was also turned out to be a major test for China's new leadership headed by President Xi Jinping, which took over power a month ago.
Under pressure to prove its mettle, the new government mounted relief operations on a war footing mobilising thousands of soldiers and relief teams.
Following the footsteps of his predecessor, Wen Jiabao, new Premier Li Keqiang rushed to the affected areas about five hours after the quake struck and stayed over night in Ya'an city, the worst hit area and returned on Sunday afternoon.
He was seen personally coordinating relief operations, goading the rescuers to take advantage of the golden 72-hour period to save as many people as possible from the rubble.
China, meanwhile, thanked the international community for offering assistance, but politely declined any help, saying that it will be difficult for foreign rescue teams to travel to remote areas.
‘The Chinese government and people are sincerely grateful to various means of assistances offered by some countries,’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.
Stressing that the Chinese government is going all out to carry out rescue work, Qin said country has guaranteed rescue and medical treatment capability and sufficient rescue materials.
102 CULTURAL SITES DAMAGED
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck China’s Sichuan province has damaged 102 cultural relics sites.
The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said that among the damaged places were 24 sites at the national level and 61 at the provincial level.
Yesterday’s quake has also caused damage to another 12 museums where 274 cultural relics items were affected, the administration said.
About 200 people have been killed and over 11,500 injured in the quake, state-run Xinhua reported.
SICHUAN-BASED NUCLEAR POWER FACILITIES DECLARED SAFE
Sichuan-based nuclear power facilities are safe and no abnormalities have been detected in environmental radiation monitoring following the 7.0-magnitude quake, Chinese authorities said Saturday.
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), it has sent a team to the epicentre to direct works of screening environmental hazards and emergency monitoring after the quake hit Ya’an in the quake-hit province Saturday, Xinhua reported.
It said local drinking water had not been contaminated so far and there were no chemical plants or other environmentally hazardous facilities in Lushan county of Ya’an.
JOURNALIST REPORTS IN WEDDING DRESS
A dedicated Chinese TV presenter cut short her wedding after a massive earthquake hit her hometown yesterday, grabbing a mic to report live from the scene in her bridal gown and veil.
Chen Ying became an internet sensation after a YouTube video of her interviewing survivors while holding up the hem of her billowing white wedding dress went viral.
After suffering the shallow quake yesterday, the Lushan county battered by over 1,170 tremors. The severest aftershocks measured as high as 5.4 magnitude, jolting the area badly from the depth of 17 kms.
Death toll continue to mount throughout the day as relief teams spread to remote areas and sifted though the rubble to rescue people trapped under the debris.
About 186 bodies were recovered and 21 people were listed as missing. About 11,500 people were injured, according to officials.
The quake in Sichuan province, second in five years, sparked off a debate whether there should be high density human settlements in the areas as it is very prone to recurring quakes.
Sichuan is located on the foothills of Tibetan plateau and known to be prone to heavy earthquakes as it sits right over the place where the tectonic Euroasian and Indian plates meet, often colliding with huge force.
Over 90,000 people were killed in 2008 quake in the province which virtually ravaged the area. Its neighbouring province, Qinghai witnessed yet another heavy quake in 2010, causing several deaths and massive destruction.
Politically yesterday's earthquake was also turned out to be a major test for China's new leadership headed by President Xi Jinping, which took over power a month ago.
Under pressure to prove its mettle, the new government mounted relief operations on a war footing mobilising thousands of soldiers and relief teams.
Following the footsteps of his predecessor, Wen Jiabao, new Premier Li Keqiang rushed to the affected areas about five hours after the quake struck and stayed over night in Ya'an city, the worst hit area and returned on Sunday afternoon.
He was seen personally coordinating relief operations, goading the rescuers to take advantage of the golden 72-hour period to save as many people as possible from the rubble.
China, meanwhile, thanked the international community for offering assistance, but politely declined any help, saying that it will be difficult for foreign rescue teams to travel to remote areas.
‘The Chinese government and people are sincerely grateful to various means of assistances offered by some countries,’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.
Stressing that the Chinese government is going all out to carry out rescue work, Qin said country has guaranteed rescue and medical treatment capability and sufficient rescue materials.
102 CULTURAL SITES DAMAGED
The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck China’s Sichuan province has damaged 102 cultural relics sites.
The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said that among the damaged places were 24 sites at the national level and 61 at the provincial level.
Yesterday’s quake has also caused damage to another 12 museums where 274 cultural relics items were affected, the administration said.
About 200 people have been killed and over 11,500 injured in the quake, state-run Xinhua reported.
SICHUAN-BASED NUCLEAR POWER FACILITIES DECLARED SAFE
Sichuan-based nuclear power facilities are safe and no abnormalities have been detected in environmental radiation monitoring following the 7.0-magnitude quake, Chinese authorities said Saturday.
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), it has sent a team to the epicentre to direct works of screening environmental hazards and emergency monitoring after the quake hit Ya’an in the quake-hit province Saturday, Xinhua reported.
It said local drinking water had not been contaminated so far and there were no chemical plants or other environmentally hazardous facilities in Lushan county of Ya’an.
JOURNALIST REPORTS IN WEDDING DRESS
A dedicated Chinese TV presenter cut short her wedding after a massive earthquake hit her hometown yesterday, grabbing a mic to report live from the scene in her bridal gown and veil.
Chen Ying became an internet sensation after a YouTube video of her interviewing survivors while holding up the hem of her billowing white wedding dress went viral.