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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 22, 2003

Earthquake Rattles Southwest China, 12 Killed

A moderate earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit China's southwestern province of Yunnan overnight, killing 13 people and injuring more than 200, local officials said on Tuesday.


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A moderate earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale hit China's southwestern province of Yunnan overnight, killing 13 people and injuring more than 200, local officials said on Tuesday.

The earthquake, measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, struck Dayao County and a number of other counties at 11:16 p.m.(Beijing Time) Monday, according to local sources.

The epicenter was located at Tanhua Township about 180 kilometers from the provincial capital of Kunming, at 26 north latitude and 101.2 east longitude, according to seismologists.

"Lots of houses fell down and those 12 people were killed after the houses collapsed," an official at the county's relief headquarters said.

"Some villages are cut off from communications, and we have to sent people down there to investigate losses," he said, adding that tents would be provided for temporary shelter.

Another seismological official said frequent rain in the area over the past few days had made the houses more susceptible to the tremor.

Relief work was immediately launched and Dayao authorities have dispatched rescue teams to all its 14 townships.

The provincial government has also sent two teams of officials and experts to assess the situation and help organize rescue work.

In early July, a 6.1 magnitude quake rattled the mountainous Tibet region with no casualties.


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Moderate Quake Rattles Southwest China, One Dead



 


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