Hundreds die in strong China quake
At least 400 people have been killed and thousands of others have been injured following a strong earthquake in China's northwestern Qinghai Province.
The 6.9-magnitude quake was centered in a mountainous area 240 km (150 miles) outside the autonomous region of Tibet.
Some sources have put the quake's strength at a magnitude of 7.1.
The earthquake struck just before 8:00 a.m. local time — when many people were still at home.
Officials say over 85 percent of the houses near the epicenter have collapsed. More than 10,000 people have also been injured.
Many are still trapped under the debris. The early morning quake was followed by at least three aftershocks — some with magnitudes as high as 5.8.
Rescue teams and essential equipment are being rushed to the affected areas.
In 2008, a 7.9-magnitude tremor in Sichuan Province left almost 90,000 people dead or missing.
Source: presstv.ir
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