Earthquake shakes China’s Sichuan province, killing 3 and injuring 88
- Thousands of rescuers are involved in the emergency response and more than 76,000 people have been evacuated
- The magnitude 6 quake occurred in the province’s Lu county at 4.33am
Three people are dead and 88 injured after a magnitude 6 earthquake shook Lu county in China’s southwestern province of Sichuan at 4.33am on Thursday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC). The local authorities said more than 76,000 residents had been evacuated and more than 24,000 houses damaged.
A combined team of more than 4,000 rescuers was sent to the affected area, after Sichuan’s earthquake relief headquarters and the local authorities initiated the highest and second-highest levels of emergency response this morning. CENC said the quake struck at a depth of 10km (6.2 miles), with the epicentre at 29.2 degrees north latitude and 105.34 degrees east longitude.
Heavy downpours were also expected on Thursday, with a blue rain alert issued the previous day by the Luzhou municipal observatory. Cumulative rainfall was expected to reach more than 100mm (3.9 inches) in some places, with associated thunder, strong winds and hail forecast for some towns in mountainous areas.
An alert was issued at noon warning of possible further geological activity in the earthquake zone and surrounding areas over the next 72 hours. Residents and rescue workers were reminded to take precautions.
Meanwhile, 55 firefighters were hosing down a potential fire risk after more than 200 tonnes of highly concentrated alcohol leaked when a storage facility for China’s most popular liquor was damaged by the earthquake.
More than 170 porcelain pots of baijiu were smashed at the Luzhou Chennianjiao Wine facility, according to Shanghai-based online news portal The Paper. The report said nine fire engines were at the scene, where a strong smell of alcohol permeated the air.