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Powerful earthquake shakes China Powerful earthquake shakes China
(40 minutes later)
An earthquake measuring 7.5 has hit south-west China, according to the US Geological Survey.An earthquake measuring 7.5 has hit south-west China, according to the US Geological Survey.
Reports said tremors could be felt as far afield as the Thai capital, Bangkok, and Hanoi in Vietnam.
The quake struck 57 miles (92km) north-west of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, at 1428 (0628 GMT), the survey said on its website.The quake struck 57 miles (92km) north-west of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, at 1428 (0628 GMT), the survey said on its website.
Earthquakes are common in China - in March a 7.2-magnitude quake struck in the western Xinjiang province. Tremors were felt as far afield as Beijing, the Thai capital, Bangkok, and Hanoi in Vietnam.
On Monday, workers in Beijing - about 930 miles from Chengdu - said buildings were swaying for about two minutes. Workers were evacuated from swaying buildings in several cities, but it was not clear if there were any casualties.
In Beijing's financial district, workers poured from their buildings - but there were no visible signs of damage. Workers in the Chinese capital, Beijing - about 930 miles from Chengdu - said buildings shook for about two minutes.
Workers in Chengdu also fled their buildings. In the city's financial district, people poured out of buildings, but there were no visible signs of damage.
China's tallest building, the Jinmao Tower in Shanghai, was also evacuated after the earthquake, Reuters news agency said.
In Chengdu, residents poured on to the streets.
"We felt continuous shaking for about two or three minutes. All the people in our office are rushing downstairs," an office worker in Chengdu told Reuters."We felt continuous shaking for about two or three minutes. All the people in our office are rushing downstairs," an office worker in Chengdu told Reuters.
The Chinese authorities say they are still investigating the exact location and strength of the quake - which was initially reported to be 7.8 magnitude by the US survey. Telephone lines to the affected areas were jammed, reports said. The government was preparing to send rescue teams to the epicentre in Wenchuan County, state TV said.
Earthquakes are common in China - in March a 7.2-magnitude quake struck in the western Xinjiang province.
The area where Monday's earthquake struck lies on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau and is thinly-populated.
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