China earthquake death toll rises to 65

The strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the Sichuan province in China on Monday has so far claimed 65 lives while leaving 248 people injured and 12 missing, local media reported on Tuesday. According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, a total of 10 aftershocks of 3.0 magnitudes or above have been recorded, including one earthquake of 4.0 to 4.9 magnitude, nine earthquakes of 3.0 to 3.9 magnitude, and the largest aftershocks of 4.2 magnitude so far.

Among the 65 deaths, 37 are in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where Luding County is located, and 28 are in Ya’an City, as of 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and more than 50,000 people have relocated, the Global Times reported. 

As per the Ministry of Transport, over 350 people have been stranded on the Luding-Shimian Expressway, comprising 336 construction workers and 20 managers. Expressway tollbooths opened up over 700 special channels for earthquake relief. All service areas along the Chengdu-Luding Expressway have been fully stocked with epidemic prevention supplies, oil products, food materials, and other emergency supplies. 

More than 1,900 officers, armed police, and soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army PLA Western Theater Command rushed to the earthquake-hit area and arrived at the epicentre area at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, engaging in the transport of the injured, road dredging, victim search, and other rescue work, Global Times reported. 

As a result of the earthquake, the power supply in the province was cut off. However, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company said that nearly 22,000 households in the earthquake-stricken area have been restored.