Monday, August 04, 2014

6.1 Magnitude Earthquake in China kills hundreds

By Douglas V. Gibbs

A 6.1 (6.5 According to China's earthquake monitoring agency) magnitude earthquake struck southern China on Sunday, leaving at least 398 dead, and more than 1,800 injured.

The search for survivors has been a laborious effort, requiring rescuers to dig through the rubble of shattered homes.  The Chinese government has deployed 2,500 soldiers, and has allocated $97 million, to help with the rescue and relief effort.  

12,000 homes have been destroyed, and about 230,000 people were evacuated.  Overhead video footage revealed that the destroyed houses were the older homes, while newer multistory buildings remained standing.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area have complicating the relief efforts, and the earthquake has left many roads caved in, forcing rescuers to travel to the earthquake zone by foot.  Heavy rainfall, and thunder activity, is expected for the three days following the earthquake event.

Repeated aftershocks have also hindered the rescue work, with four of those aftershocks registering 4.5 and higher.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers dig deeper into the rubble searching for survivors.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary


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