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Quake Kills at Least 132 in China, and Thousands Are Injured Quake Kills Dozens in China, and Hundreds Are Injured
(35 minutes later)
CHENGDU — A powerful earthquake rocked China’s southwestern Sichuan Province Saturday morning, killing at least 132 people, injuring more than 5,500 and leaving unknown numbers of people trapped, according to the state media. CHENGDU, China — A powerful earthquake rocked China’s southwestern Sichuan Province on Saturday morning, killing at least 132 people, injuring more than 5,500 and leaving unknown numbers of people trapped, according to the state media.
The earthquake, which struck at 8:02 a.m. local time in Ya’an city, occurred 53 miles from the devastating quake five years ago that left 87,000 people dead or missing in a mountainous region northeast of Chengdu, the provincial capital. The earthquake, which struck at 8:02 a.m. local time in Ya’an city, occurred on the same fault line and about 53 miles from the epicenter of a devastating 2008 quake that left 87,000 people dead or missing in a mountainous region northeast of Chengdu, the provincial capital.
The quake on Saturday occurred along the same fault line. In one hard-hit township, Longmen, one resident reported that 90 percent of the homes had been destroyed, suggesting that the death toll could rise much higher.
In one hard-hit township, Longmen, one resident reported that 90 percent of the homes had been destroyed, suggesting the death toll could rise much higher. The Chengdu Evening News, a newspaper, said 600 people had been injured, 135 of them seriously, in Lushan County, which is part of the city of Ya’an. Xinhua, the state news agency, quoted a hospital official who said scores of injured people were sprawled in front of the county hospital on Saturday afternoon. Firefighters in Lushan pulled 27 survivors from collapsed buildings, Xinhua said.
The Chengdu Evening Paper said 600 people had been injured, 135 of them seriously, in Lushan County, which is part of Ya’an city. Xinhua quoted a hospital official who said scores of injured people were sprawled in front of the county hospital Saturday afternoon. Firefighters in Lushan pulled 27 survivors from collapsed buildings, Xinhua said. Premier Li Keqiang and several other senior officials from Beijing flew to Sichuan on Saturday afternoon, according to the state media. “The current most urgent issue is grasping the first 24 hours after the quake’s occurrence, the golden time for saving lives, to take scientific rescue measures and save people’s lives,” Xinhua quoted Mr. Li as saying. He took a helicopter to Lushan County, and he went to the county’s main hospital to visit the injured, according to Sichuan media.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and several other senior officials from Beijing flew to Sichuan on Saturday afternoon, according to the state media. “The current most urgent issue is grasping the first 24 hours after the quake’s occurrence, the golden time for saving lives, to take scientific rescue measures and save peoples’ lives,” Xinhua quoted Mr. Li as saying. He took a helicopter to Lushan County, and he went to the county’s main hospital to visit the injured, according to Sichuan media. The China Earthquake Networks Center said the quake had a magnitude of 7.0, and occurred six miles underground. Because it was relatively shallow, the quake was more destructive, scientists said.
The China Earthquake Networks Center said the quake had a magnitude of 7.0, and occurred six miles beneath the earth’s surface. Scientists said the quake was relatively shallow and thus more destructive. “Now the houses on both sides of the street have become dangerous buildings,” a resident, Zhang Linpeng, told the Sichuan news service. “I’ve seen people trapped in the ruins, and some people died. Many of the injured have been pulled out.”
“Now the houses on both sides of the street have become dangerous buildings,” Zhang Linpeng told the Sichuan news service. “I’ve seen people trapped in the ruins, and some people died. Many of the injured have been pulled out.”
Rescue efforts were hampered by landslides, and officials expressed concern over two barrier lakes that had formed after debris blocked two waterways.Rescue efforts were hampered by landslides, and officials expressed concern over two barrier lakes that had formed after debris blocked two waterways.
Xinhua said one soldier was killed and seven injured after the truck they were riding in plunged into a river. Photos taken on the highway to Ya’an showed an enormous boulder blocking the way. Xinhua said one soldier had been killed and seven injured after the truck they were riding in plunged into a river. Photographs taken on the highway to Ya’an showed an enormous boulder blocking the way.
According to the state media, more than 7,400 soldiers and armed police and two helicopters had been dispatched to the quake zone. The authorities also sent another 1,400 provincial rescue workers, 180 doctors from a national emergency response team, 120 “professional rescue vehicles” and six search-and-rescue dogs. As a precaution, 80,000 inmates were evacuated from prisons in the affected area. According to the state media, more than 7,400 soldiers and armed police officers and two helicopters had been sent to the quake zone. The authorities also sent 1,400 provincial rescue workers, 180 doctors from a national emergency response team, 120 “professional rescue vehicles” and 6 search-and-rescue dogs. As a precaution, 80,000 inmates were evacuated from prisons in the affected area.
A reporter from the daily newspaper of Ya’an, the area that encompasses Lushan County where the quake epicenter lay, said on China’s Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like service, that residents in Lushan needed tents, blankets, bottled water, food and medicine. A reporter from the daily newspaper in Ya’an said on China’s Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like service, that residents in Lushan County needed tents, blankets, bottled water, food and medicine.
Ya’an, which sits on a basin on the edge of the Tibetan plateau, is about 75 miles from Chengdu. The city, which includes Lushan County, has a population of 1.5 million. Ya’an, which sits on a basin on the edge of the Tibetan plateau, is about 75 miles from Chengdu. The city has a population of 1.5 million.
Scientists say the quake occurred along a seismically active fault line, known as Longmenshan, that runs between the Tibetan plateau and Sichuan Basin. Jiang Haikun, an official with the China Earthquake Administration, said 12 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater have occurred along the Longmenshan fault line since 1900. The quake occurred along a seismically active fault line, known as Longmenshan, that runs between the Tibetan plateau and Sichuan Basin, scientists said. Twelve earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater had occurred along the Longmenshan fault line since 1900, said Jiang Haikun, an official with the China Earthquake Administration.
The quake struck almost exactly five years since the calamitous Wenchuan quake, a disaster that raised questions about poorly constructed school buildings that collapsed and killed thousands of students. The quake struck almost exactly five years since the calamitous Wenchuan quake, a disaster that raised questions about poorly constructed schools that collapsed and killed thousands of students.
That earthquake prompted an extensive official relief effort, and a passionate outpouring of volunteer help. But some quake-stricken residents and observers faulted the government for dispatching rescue efforts to the wrong places, or failing to muster the equipment needed to lift victims from under slabs of concrete and brick. Instead, many troops and rescuers clambered over the rubble with sticks and spades. That earthquake prompted an extensive official relief effort, and a passionate outpouring of volunteer help. But some quake-stricken residents and observers faulted the government for sending rescue efforts to the wrong places, or failing to muster the equipment needed to lift victims from under slabs of concrete and brick. Instead, many troops and rescuers clambered over the rubble with sticks and spades.
This time, the government appears intent on avoiding any accusations of laggardness, even if the quake was less destructive than the one in 2008. In one notable gesture, CCTV, the state broadcaster, posted photographs online of Mr. Li and other senior leaders sitting on a plane bound for Sichuan. State media also said that Mr. Li and Chinese President Xi Jinping had convened an emergency meeting earlier in the day to coordinate rescue efforts. This time, the government appears intent on avoiding any accusations of laggardness, even if the quake was less destructive than the one in 2008. In one notable gesture, CCTV, the state broadcaster, posted photographs online of Mr. Li and other senior leaders sitting on a plane bound for Sichuan. State media also said Mr. Li and President Xi Jinping had convened an emergency meeting earlier in the day to coordinate rescue efforts.
In contrast to the earthquake in 2008, when officials restricted independent reporting on the disaster, Ran Wang, a businessman, said he hoped officials would allow greater transparency. “No censorship, no cover ups or control so the right of the people and society to be informed during natural disasters are respected,” he wrote on his microblog account. In 2008, officials restricted independent reporting on the disaster, but Ran Wang, a businessman, said he hoped officials would allow greater transparency this time. “No censorship, no cover-ups or control so the right of the people and society to be informed during natural disasters is respected,” he wrote on his microblog account.
The quake was powerful enough to be felt hundreds of miles away in Yunnan, Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces. In Chongqing, 200 miles away from the epicenter, residents raced down the stairwells of apartment buildings and stood in the streets in their pajamas. The quake was powerful enough to be felt hundreds of miles away in Yunnan, Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces. In Chongqing, 200 miles from the epicenter, residents raced down the stairwells of apartment buildings and stood in the streets in their pajamas.
As of midday, the number of aftershocks exceeded 200, with 15 of them greater than a magnitude of 4.0.As of midday, the number of aftershocks exceeded 200, with 15 of them greater than a magnitude of 4.0.

Chris Buckley contributed reporting from Hong Kong.

Chris Buckley contributed reporting from Hong Kong.