Earthquake of magnitude 6.1 struck southwest Yunnan province of China

Earthquake of magnitude 6.1 on Richter scale stuck southwest Yunnan province of China on 3 August 2014. The quake left behind a trail of destruction and devastation in the province and killed about 380 people and injured about 1800 others. This was the strongest earthquake to hit the province in 14years.

According to China Earthquake Networks Center, the magnitude of the strong quake was 6.1 with its epicenter at a depth of 12 km in Longtoushan Township, 23 km southwest of the county seat of Ludian, Zhaotong City. Whereas, US Geological Survey said that the quake’s epicenter was at a depth of 11km (seven miles) in north-west of Wenping in Yunnan province.

It stuck at 4:30 pm (Beijing time 08:30 GMT) and the tremor was also felt in nearby provinces like Sichuan and Guizhou.

The massive quake left behind a scene of destruction with more than 12000 houses toppled and 30000 damaged. Transportation, electricity and telecommunications have been cut off in the county. The rescue operations are still being carried and the government has dispatched more than 2500 officers and soldiers from People's Liberation Army to join the disaster relief operation.

South-west China
Southwest China is a region of the People's Republic of China defined by governmental bureaus that includes the municipality of Chongqing, the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, and the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is an area that is prone to earthquakes. The city of Zhaozhong is on the earthquake belt and has been occasionally struck by earthquakes. A quake that struck in September 2012 of magnitude 5.7 lead to death of 80 people leaving behind several injured.

Earlier in 2008, a quake in Sichuan killed tens of thousands and several injured. In 1970 a quake of magnitude 7.7 in Yunnan killed at least 15000 people.