At least 5 killed in China earthquake

At least five people were killed and 90 others injured, including 30 seriously, and damage to property after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.0 magnitude rattled China's southwestern province Sichuan on Tuesday.

According to the latest information, five people are killed and 90 were injured of which 30 were in serious condition, said China's official news agency Xinhua.

The China Earthquake Networks Centre measured the quake at magnitude 7 and said it was 20 km deep. It said said the quake occurred around 9.20 p.m. near Jiuzhaigou or Jiuzhai Valley, a national park known for spectacular waterfalls and karst formations.

All the dead were visitors to the popular tourist destination of Jiuzhaigou in the epicentre of Zhangzha town, Jiuzhaigou County, said the publicity department of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture that administers the county

The US Geological Survey measured the quake at magnitude 6.6 and said it struck 200 kilometre west northwest of Guangyuan in Sichuan province at a depth of 32 km, South China Morning Post reported.

The Sichuan earthquake administration said the epicentre of the tremor was in Ngawa prefecture, largely populated by ethnic Tibetans.

Sangey, a worker at the popular Jiuzhaigou tourist site, told Xinhua on telephone that some houses in the scenic area collapsed or cracked in wake of the powerful quake and authorities are organising young people to help evacuate residents.

There were reported house collapses in towns like Heihe, Shuanghe and Anle, the department said.

Li Changyong, head of the Jiuzhaigou county health and family planning bureau, said the quake was strongly felt in the county seat, 35 km from the epicenter, and many residents rushed out of buildings.

--IANS

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