Hundreds dead; thousands homeless after Chinese earthquake

An earthquake in Yunnan province of southwestern China killed more than 380 people and injured roughly 1,880 more, and destroyed thousands of buildings on August 3.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The U.S. Geological Survey said that the 6.3 magnitude quake occurred at a shallow depth, less than a mile from the surface, and Chinese media authorities reported that it was felt most strongly in Yunnan as well as the neighboring provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan.

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Xinhua news agency reported that the epicenter was located in the town of Longtoushan in the mountainous Ludian county of Yunnan.

Emergency response was quick and the Chinese government has reported that it is sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats to the disaster area, where heavy rains are predicted in the next few days which will cause extra issues.

About 12,000 homes collapsed in Ludian county, home of nearly 430,000 people.

"I felt a strong jolt on my fifth-floor home and some small objects in my home fell off the shelves," a resident of Ludian told Xinhua News Agency.

"The aftermath is much, much worse than what happened after the quake two years ago," said Ma Liya, a resident affected by the quake. "I have never felt such strong tremors before. What I can see are all ruins."

Local Chinese media is reporting that among the buildings destroyed by the earthquake, a school was totally reduced to rubble.

The Red Cross Society of China allocated quilts, jackets and tents for those affected by the quake, while Red Cross branches in Hong Kong, Macau and neighboring Sichuan province also sent relief supplies.

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