New Delhi: At least 46 people have been killed after intense tremors in a remote area damaged homes and caused power outages in some areas of China due to a strong earthquake on Monday, according to state media.
According to the US Geological Survey, the magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres about 43 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the city of Kangding in Sichuan Province.
According to China Earthquake Networks Centre, the epicentre of the earthquake, which struck at 12:25 p.m. local time, was monitored at 29.59 degrees north latitude and 102.08 degrees east longitude at a depth of 16 km. There are several villages within a 5-km radius of the epicentre and it is located 39 km from Luding, the county seat.
Local authorities were cited in official media reports as saying that at least 46 people were killed and more than 50 others were injured. As rescue teams dispersed into the affected areas, more casualties were anticipated. 29 of the fatalities came from Ya’an City, and the remaining 17 from Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which oversees Luding County.
The majority of Chengdu’s population of over 21 million people spent the majority of the day outside as aftershocks continued to shake the city. Infrastructure was also damaged, including transportation, telecommunications, water, and electrical systems.
“Heartfelt condolences to lives lost in the devastating earthquake in Sichuan on September 5 and prayers for the early recovery of the injured,” the Indian Embassy here tweeted.
