64,500 evacuated after China quake
Chinese authorities have evacuated 64,500 people from their homes in a remote region of the country’s southwest following a quake that damaged hundreds of houses, state media reported Wednesday.
The 4.8-magnitude quake rattled a border area of Yunnan province shortly after 3:00 pm (0700 GMT) on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey.
A total of 678 homes were damaged, but only one collapsed, China’s official Xinhua news agency said. No casualties have been reported in the quake which occurred in Dehong prefecture, a rugged region along China’s border with Myanmar.
It forced the emergency evacuation of 64,500 people as of Tuesday night, Xinhua quoted county officials saying. The county government also sent emergency supplies of tents, quilts, coats and rice to the area.
The quake struck as families across the huge nation of 1.3 billion people gathered at their homes to celebrate the Lunar New Year, China’s most important holiday.
Didn’t I tell you that the World Almanac predicted alot of natural disasters going forward? We will continue to see many disasters of this magnitude and greater. Our years of calm and inactivity are behind us for good.