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China quake: Dozens die and hundreds hurt in Sichuan China quake: Dozens die and hundreds hurt in Sichuan
(about 1 hour later)
A powerful earthquake has killed at least 46 people and injured at least 400 in China's south-western province of Sichuan, state TV reports. Dozens of people have been killed and hundreds injured in a powerful earthquake in rural areas of China's south-western province of Sichuan.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, which had a 6.6 magnitude, was centred 50km (31 miles) west of the town of Linqiong. The 6.6-magnitude quake wrecked buildings and cut power in Lushan county, and officials say an initial death toll of 56 is likely to rise.
It said the tremor occurred at a depth of 12km (7.4 miles). There are fears the death toll could rise further. Rescuers are struggling to get through to the worst-affected areas because of aftershocks and landslides.
An 8.0 magnitude quake in Sichuan in May 2008 killed nearly 90,000 people. Tens of thousands were killed in a quake that hit Sichuan in 2008.
The latest quake - initially reported as a 7.0 magnitude, and then at 6.9 - struck at 08:02 local time (00:02 GMT), the USGS said. The latest quake, initially reported as of 7.0 magnitude, struck at 08:02 local time (00:02 GMT).
It was felt 115km (71 miles) away in the provincial capital, Chengdu, according to China's state news agency Xinhua. Its epicentre was in a rural area some 115km (71 miles) west of provincial capital Chengdu, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
People ran into the streets wrapped in blankets, according to photos posted online. Other pictures showed buildings that had collapsed. State broadcaster CCTV showed images of injured people being taken to hospital in Lushan.
A resident in Chengdu told Xinhua he had been on the 13th floor of a building when he felt the quake. The building shook for about 20 seconds and he saw tiles fall from nearby buildings. One injured man told the channel: "We still live in our old house, the new one is not ready yet. Our house just collapsed. Everything collapsed."
Electrical and water supplies have reportedly been cut to the affected area, the BBC's Martin Patience reports from Beijing. The quake was measured at 12km below the surface, a shallow depth that usually indicates extensive damage.
Telephone lines are also believed to be down. Aerial shots of Lushan showed buildings collapsed or without roofs.
Xinhua said 2,000 soldiers had been despatched to the area to help with rescue efforts. Power has been lost in the area, water supplies have been cut and telephone lines are also down.
The city of Ya'an, close to the epicentre, has a population of 1.5 million. People in Chengdu felt the tremor and came running into the streets wrapped in blankets.
The USGS noted that "significant" casualties were likely and that "extensive damage is probable and disaster is likely widespread". Chengdu resident Aaron Ozment told the BBC there was huge confusion in the city.
"Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response," it added. "I threw on a some clothes quickly and made my way into the courtyard of my complex," he said.
"Making calls was almost impossible; everybody was trying to contact everybody they knew."
Residents in the nearest city to the epicentre, Ya'an, felt jolts from the quake and aftershocks, but the city does not appear to have suffered major damage.
State news agency Xinhua said 2,000 soldiers had been despatched to help with rescue efforts.
Premier Li Keqiang is travelling to Sichuan to oversee the operation.
"The current most urgent issue is grasping the first 24 hours since the quake's occurrence, the golden time for saving lives," Mr Li was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
The 2008 disaster in Sichuan left five million people homeless.The 2008 disaster in Sichuan left five million people homeless.