A deadly earthquake struck China’s Sichuan Province on Saturday morning, killing at least 157 people and injuring more than 5,700 others. An unknown number of residents remain listed as missing or trapped under rubble, according to reports from Aon Benfield’s Impact Forecasting team.
The earthquake was registered by the US Geological Survey (USGS) at M6.6, though the China Earthquake Administration said the tremor registered M7.0. Reports from official Chinese state-run media and the government’s Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) indicate that extensive damage has occurred to dozens of cities and villages nearest to the epicentre. Shaking was also felt in neighbouring provinces of Guizhou, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Yunnan as well as the Chongqing municipality.
The epicentre was near the city of Ya’an in Lushan County, which is home to approximately 1.5 million people and known for its mountainous terrain. Published reports suggested that residents felt ground shaking for more than 30 seconds. At least 13,000 soldiers and military police are in the midst of performing rescue and recovery operations in the region.
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