earthquake china

SHANGHAI – A series of strong earthquakes hit the edge of the Tibetan plateau in western China Wednesday morning, killing at least 67 people. Officials said the death toll would likely climb as rescuers search collapsed buildings.

A magnitude 7.1 temblor struck shortly before 8 a.m. in a remote, mountainous area near the border between China’s Qinghai province and the Tibet Autonomous Region, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The U.S. Geological Survey said it recorded a 6.9 magnitude quake in southern Qinghai followed by two other temblors in the region.

In Yushu prefecture, an area predominantly inhabited by ethnic Tibetans, witnesses said that many houses had collapsed, according to state media. The prefecture has a population of about 252,000 people, about 97% of whom are Tibetan.

A prefecture official quoted by Xinhua said that in the town of Jiegu near the quake’s epicenter, more than 85% of houses had been knocked down by the quake. Rescuers were digging through the ruble by hand to try to find survivors, Xinhua said.

“Many are buried in the collapsed houses, and there are still lots of others who are injured and being treated at local hospitals,” the local official, Zhuohuaxia told Xinhua. He said local authorities needed excavating equipment and medical supplies.

Guo Yang, a resident of Jiegu interviewed by phone, said: “It is the most devastating thing I’ve ever seen.” Mr. Guo said nearly all the homes in the town had collapsed. “We are busy with rescuing people who are trapped,” he said.

Hundreds of People’s Armed Police were on the scene searching collapsed buildings and thousands more rescuers had been dispatched to the area, state media said.

Earthquakes are a frequent occurrence on the Tibetan plateau, but there are usually few casualties because the area is so sparsely populated. A massive earthquake in May 2008 in Sichuan, in southwestern China, however, left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing.

Taiwan Earthquake, Earthquake in Taiwan Today

Taiwan Earthquake, Earthquake in Taiwan Today: A large earthquake struck Taiwan on Saturday night, causing some injuries and damage in the capital of Taipei as well as damage near the quake’s epicenter.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.4-magnitude quake was centered off the eastern coast of Taiwan, about 15 miles (25 kilometers) from Hualien. It struck at a depth of about 30 miles (45 kilometers). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not immediately issue any warning.

Buildings shook in the capital for several seconds after the quake struck.

Local TV reported at least four people in the capital had minor injuries, most resulting from falling debris. The reports said trafficTaipei’s subways and the island’s high speed railroad was suspended.

TV stations also reported that windows were blown out in a Hualien hotel and that there was minor property damage in Taipei.

Earthquakes frequently rattle Taiwan but most are minor and cause little or no damage.

However, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in central Taiwan in 1999 killed more than 2,300 people. And in 2006 a 6.7-magnitude tremor south of Kaohsiung severed undersea cables and disrupted telephone and Internet service to millions throughout Asia.