More than 100 people killed in China after strong earthquake

Updated
More than 100 people killed in China after strong earthquake
More than 100 people killed in China after strong earthquake



A 7.0-magnitude earthquake in southwest China has killed more than 100 people and injured thousands of others.

The powerful earthquake struck Ya'an city in the Sichuan region on Saturday at 8.02am but was also strongly felt by residents in the capital city of Chengdu, about 140 kilometres away, Xinhua reports.

According to CNN, 102 people have been confirmed dead and more than 3,000 injured.

Rescue workers are struggling to get through the area because of aftershocks and landslides.

State media reports that flights at the airport in Chengdu have been halted and high-speed rail services suspended.

The China Earthquake Networks Centre said the quake happened six miles beneath the earth's surface.

China's new Premiere Li Keqiang is flying to Sichuan to survey the damage.

According to the BBC, Chinese broadcaster CCTV showed images of injured people being taken to hospital.

One man said: "We still live in our old house, the new one is not ready yet. Our house just collapsed. Everything collapsed."

In 2008, tens of thousands of people were killed in Sichuan when a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit the province.

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