SW China Earthquake - 7.9 - Midlands Weather Forum

Dollsworth · #1 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 09:42

Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for "all-out" efforts to rescue victims of an earthquake measuring 7.8 that has hit south-western China.

The quake struck 92km (57 miles) north-west of Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu, at 1428 (0628 GMT).

Five people are reported to have died, including four schoolchildren.
The children were killed, and more than 100 others injured, when primary school buildings collapsed in the Chongqing area, a large municipality near Sichuan province, Xinhua added.
Another person is reported to have died when a water tower collapsed in the city of Mianyang, in Santai County.

Full article: BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | China in 'all-out' quake effort

scotweather · #2 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 09:48

Summary:
Magnitude Mw 7.8
Region EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA

Date time 2008-05-12 at 06:27:59.0 UTC
Location 31.12 N ; 103.24 E
Depth 10 km
Distances 94 km NW Chengdu (pop 3,950,437 ; local time 14:27 2008-05-12)
39 km W Guangkou (pop 65,379 ; local time 14:27 2008-05-12)

More seismicity information (Moment tensors, phases pickings, etc.)

scotweather · #3 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 11:35

Almost 900 students have been buried by collapsed buildings during an earthquake in south-western China, state media reports.
President Hu Jintao has called for "all-out" efforts to rescue victims of the quake which had a magnitude of 7.8.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | 'Hundreds buried' by China quake

107 people so far have been killed according to the BBC.

Dollsworth · #4 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 12:20

Articles from around the web...

PEOPLE'S DAILY ONLINE

Quote:

Four pupils died in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Monday afternoon when an earthquake toppled two primary schools in the outer Liangping County of Chongqing.

More than 100 students were reportedly injured, the local government said.

4 dead in SW China earthquake - People's Daily Online

Quote:

A major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province at 2:28 p.m. Monday, the State Seismological Bureau said, revising a previous figure of 7.6.

The epicenter of the quake was located 31.0 degrees north latitude and 103.4 degrees east longitude, the bureau said.

Earthquake measuring 7.8 Richter scale hits SW China - People's Daily Online

Quote:

An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale jolted Tongzhou District in east Beijing Monday afternoon.

The quake struck at 2:35 p.m. Beijing Time and the epicenter was initially determined to be 39.8 degrees north latitude and 116.8 degrees east longitude, according to the China's Seismological Forecast Network.

Minor quake jolts E Beijing, high buildings evacuated - People's Daily Online

Quote:

President Hu Jintao on Monday ordered all-out efforts to help those affected by a major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale that jolted Wenchuan County of southwest China's Sichuan Province at 2:28 p.m. on Monday.

President Hu orders utmost effort for Sichuan quake victims - People's Daily Online

REUTERS

Quote:

An earthquake measuring 7.5 rocked China's Sichuan province on Monday, less than 100 km, or 60 miles, from the provincial capital of Chengdu, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its Web site.
It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties or damage from the tremor which the USGS earlier put at 7.8.

Strong earthquake hits southwest China - International Herald Tribune

Quote:

A powerful earthquake in southwest China killed at least 107 people on Monday and buried 900 teenagers in a collapsed school as the tremor caused buildings to fall and left whole areas cut off.
The death toll was expected to rise sharply as authorities and rescue teams make contact with the worst-hit areas of Sichuan province, where roads and phone lines have been cut off since the 7.8 magnitude quake struck.

China quake kills at least 107 - International Herald Tribune

CHINA DAILY

Quote:

Five people were confirmed dead in southwest China's Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality on Monday afternoon after an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale toppled two school buildings and a water tower.

Four students died in Chongqing's outer Liangping County when the earthquake toppled the Wenhua Township Primary School at about 2:30 p.m. At least 100 children were injured, the local government said.

5 dead in SW China earthquake

Quote:

A major eathquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County of Southwest China's Sichuan Province at 2:28 p.m. on Monday, the State Seismological Bureau said.

The epicenter of the quake was located 31.0 degrees north latitude and 103.4 degrees east longitude, the bureau said. Wenchuan is about 100 kilometers to the northwest of Chengdu, provincial capital of Sichuan.

Strong quake hits Sichuan, tremor felt in Beijing

Medical, military quake relief team mobilizing to leave Beijing
Sichuan: at least 55 dead, 600 injured after powerful earthquake
China initiates diaster relief emergency plan for Sichuan quake
Flights delayed in China due to quake
China quake buries nearly 900 students in Sichuan Province
China quake kills 107, injures 34
Tremor depth at 29km below surface
Chengdu airport closed following major quake
http://www.chinadaily.net/china/china_quake08_page.html

MSNBC

Quote:

BEIJING, China - A powerful earthquake buried 900 students in central China on Monday and killed at least 107 people, as several schools and a water tower collapsed in the tremor, state media reported.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck central China, but sent thousands of people rushing out of buildings and into the streets hundreds of miles away in Beijing and Shanghai. The temblor was felt as far away as Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand.

Reports: China quake kills 107, buries 900 kids - Asia-Pacific - MSNBC.com

WINDOW OF CHINA NEWS

Quote:

Five people were confirmed dead in southwest China's Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality on Monday afternoon after an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale toppled two school buildings and a water tower.
Four students died in Chongqing's outer Liangping County when the earthquake toppled the Wenhua Township Primary School at about2:30 p.m. At least 100 children were injured, the local government said.

5 dead in SW China quake, dozens injured_English_Xinhua

Dollsworth · #5 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 13:49

Between 3,000 and 5,000 people may have been killed by an earthquake measuring 7.8 in just one county of south-western China's Sichuan province, reports say.

Some 10,000 people are also feared to have been injured in Beichuan county.
Desperate efforts are under way to find survivors. One school that collapsed has buried an estimated 900 students.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | 'Thousands dead' in Chinese quake

Dollsworth · #6 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotweather

Almost 900 students have been buried by collapsed buildings during an earthquake in south-western China, state media reports.

A powerful earthquake is reported to have killed at least 7,000 people in China's south-western Sichuan province, up to 5,000 of them in just one county.

Many more are feared killed and injured in other parts of the country after the quake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, struck at 1428 local time (0628 GMT).
At least 50 bodies have been recovered from the rubble of a school where an estimated 900 students were buried.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | 'Thousands dead' in Chinese quake

The Chinese authorities have launched a major rescue operation in Sichuan province, after it was struck by the most powerful earthquake to hit the south-west of the country in 30 years.

In the nearby city of Dujiangyan, which was closer to the epicentre, desperate efforts are under way to find survivors underneath the rubble of a three-storey school building which collapsed, burying an estimated 900 students.

Much more information and video: BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | 'Buried teenagers crying for help'

Pictures of the devastation: BBC NEWS | In Pictures | In pictures: China earthquake

Grant · #7 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 15:52

A powerful earthquake has killed at least 8,500 people in China's south-western Sichuan province, up to 5,000 of them in just one county.

Many more are feared killed and injured in other parts of the country after the quake, which had a magnitude of 7.8, struck at 1428 local time (0628 GMT).

At least 50 bodies have been recovered from the rubble of a school where an estimated 900 students were buried.

President Hu Jintao has urged "all-out" efforts to rescue victims.

The epicentre of the earthquake was about 92km (57 miles) from Chengdu, Sichuan's provincial capital.

Because the earthquake struck in the middle of the day, it is feared that many schoolchildren may be among the victims.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Thousands dead in Chinese quake

michaelfish-not · #8 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 17:33

It has now been upgraded to 7.9.

scotweather · #9 (**Link to Post**) 12-May-2008, 18:06

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 90 km (55 miles) WNW of Chengdu, Sichuan, China and 1545 km (960 miles) SW of BEIJING, Beijing, China at 12:28 AM MDT, May 12, 2008 (2:28 PM local time in China). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available.
Felt Reports

At least 8,500 people killed. Felt widely in China. Also felt in parts of Thailand and Taiwan.
Tectonic Summary

The Sichuan earthquake of May 12, 2008, occurred as the result of motion on a northeast striking reverse fault or thrust fault on the northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin. The earthquake's epicenter and focal-mechanism are consistent with it having occurred as the result of movement on the Longmenshan fault or a tectonically related fault. The earthquake reflects tectonic stresses resulting from the convergence of crustal material slowly moving from the high Tibetan Plateau, to the west, against strong crust underlying the Sichuan Basin and southeastern China.
On a continental scale, the seismicity of central and eastern Asia is a result of northward convergence of the India plate against the Eurasia plate with a velocity of about 50 mm/y. The convergence of the two plates is broadly accommodated by the uplift of the Asian highlands and by the motion of crustal material to the east away from the uplifted Tibetan Plateau.
The northwestern margin of the Sichuan Basin has previously experienced destructive earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5 earthquake of August 25, 1933, killed more than 9,300 people.

Magnitude 7.9 - EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dollsworth For This Useful Post:
michaelfish-not (12-May-2008), scotweather (12-May-2008)

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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Dollsworth For This Useful Post:
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dollsworth For This Useful Post:
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