Rescue Efforts Continue Following China Quake

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2014-08-05

Chinese rescue workers continue searching for survivors in the thousands of homes that collapsed following a powerful earthquake in the southwestern province of Yunnan.

At least 398 people have been confirmed dead as the result of Sunday's 6.1-magnitude quake, which was centered near the remote town of Longtoushan.

The official Xinhua news agency says the quake destroyed 80,000 homes and damaged another 124,000. More than 18,000 rescue workers have been deployed to the area.

Efforts to send tents, water, food and other supplies have been hampered by heavy thunderstorms, which are expected to continue for the next several days, causing landslides and floods.

Xinhua says damaged roads forced Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to walk nearly five kilometers to reach Longtoushan Monday. Li vowed that no effort would be spared to save lives.

The news agency says it was the worst earthquake to hit the region in 100 years.

Southwestern China is frequently struck by earthquakes. In 2012 an earthquake in the Yunnan region killed at least 80 people.

Source: Voice of America

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