An earthquake measuring 7.8 on Richter scale struck China’s Sichuan Province on Monday (May 12) at 2.28pm China Standard Time.
The death toll is 11,921 at the time of writing (about 16 hours after the quake). The number is rising by the hour with many still missing. The worst hit area is Beichuan County, about 160 kilometres northeast of the quake epicentre in Wenchuan.
Chinese government dispatched 50,000 troops and armed police to help on the same day. Credit to the effort and hope the fast respond can save some lives.
This is the worst earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake which killed around 250,000 people (some said it’s higher at 650,000.)
Follow my Sichuan earthquake tag for updates on the relief efforts and other news.
Also in Asia
This is the second large-scale natural disaster to hit Asia in May. Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar earlier this month with many casualties as well.
