Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Dozens Killed In China Earthquake

Monday, May 12, 2008

Dozens Killed In China Earthquake

At least 107 seven people have been killed and another 34 injured by a powerful earthquake that hit southwestern China, the state-run Xinhua news agency reports.The magnitude 7.5 quake struck 92km northwest of the Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, at 1448 local time (0628 GMT) on Monday.
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Nearly 900 students might have been buried in the ruble in Sichuan province, Xinhua News Agency reported. It did not immediately give any other details or say if any of the students were thought to be alive.Local media said a "row of houses" had collapsed in a city near the quake's epicentre.
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The quake was powerful enough to sway buildings as far away as Beijing, Shanghai and the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Damage

A statement issued by the local government in Aba prefecture, where the epicentre was located, said buildings had cracked and collapsed, and mountain roads were damaged.

The area has a population of about 110,000 residents, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Wen Jiaboa, China's prime minister, has announced that he will visit the affected areas. He has also ordered for troop deployment to carry out rescue and relief.
Al Jazeera's China correspondent Melissa Chan said the decision by the prime minister to rush to the area indicated the severity of the earthquake and the damage it may have caused.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake is considered a major event, capable of causing widespread damage and injuries in populated areas.
A man who answered the phone at a branch of the Holiday Inn hotel in Chengdu said the quake lasted about five minutes and there were several aftershocks.

Aftershocks

"We all felt very scared," he said, but added that he had not heard of any major damage such as collapsed buildings or casualties.

Jessica Sigala of the US Geological Survey based in Colorado said the quake struck at a relatively shallow depth, so aftershocks could be expected.

She added that quakes of magnitude 7.5 do have the potential to cause significant structual damage.

China's deadliest earthquake in recent memory hit the eastern city of Tangshan in 1976.

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake followed by an equally powerful aftershock almost a day later killed around 240,000 people.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.