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Large earthquake hits central China, May 2008

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) a magnitude 7.8 earthquake has shook eastern Sichuan Province in China. The USGS states that the China earthquake was recorded at 2:28 a.m. (eastern time), 2008.

So far at least six people, four of them school children, were killed when two schools collapsed due to the earthquake in Sichuan Province of China. It is reported that hundreds more are trapped in the rubble. Two people were killed after a water tower fell over and so far, over 100 others have been injured in the quake. According to the USGS, damage is expected to be "very heavy" and that "some reports of damage have been received. Felt widely throughout China."

The earthquake's epicenter was located in the Aba prefecture, 90 kilometers (55 miles) west, northwest of Chengdu, Sichuan, China and was recorded at a depth of 10 k.m. (6.2 miles). At least 11,000 people reside in the area, and because of poor communications due to the quake, the total extent of the damage is not known.

Shaking could be felt as far away as Bangkok Thailand, Shanghai, and Beijing. At least seven large aftershocks have been recorded, with the largest having a magnitude of 6.0

Source: By Wikinews
"Magnitude 7.8 quake in China kills 6, injures at least 110". Hürriyet, May 12, 2008
"Five dead as huge quake rocks China". Press Association, May 12, 2008
Stephen McDonell "Children killed in powerful China quake". ABC Online, May 12, 2008
"Magnitude 7.8 - EASTERN SICHUAN, CHINA". USGS, May 12, 2008
"China in 'all-out' quake effort". BBC News Online, May 12, 2008
"Huge earthquake strikes China". The Australian, May 12, 2008

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