At least 6,5 people were killed and 20 injured in an earthquake of magnitude 430 in southwest China, the Chinese authorities announced today a new balance of victims.
The epicenter of the earthquake was 200 kilometers from the city of Guangyuen, at a depth of 10 kilometers, the US Geological Survey said.
The earthquake was felt in the Djuzajgu National Park in a difficult-to-access part of Tibet, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is among the popular tourist destinations and is known for the beauty of its lakes.
The earthquake in Sichuan province caused landslides, but no major buildings collapsed. Officials released a satellite image showing the aftermath of the devastating earthquake, Xinhua news agency reported.
Six tourists were killed and at least 18 people were seriously injured, local officials said.
More than 60.000 people were evacuated due to aftershocks, Chinese media reported.
Residents face a lack of electricity after the earthquake, and roads are blocked. Xinhua photos from the scene show extensive damage to nature, including lakes and spectacular waterfalls.
Another 6,3-magnitude aftershock was recorded in northwest China, injuring 32 people and destroying more than 1.000 houses.
China is often hit by earthquakes, especially the mountainous regions in the west and southwest.
An earthquake in Sichuan province in May 2008 killed nearly 70.000 people. That earthquake had a magnitude of 7,9.
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