Aftershocks were still felt on Tuesday, state media said, a day after the US Geological Survey said a 6.6-magnitude earthquake shook the area southwest of Sichuan’s capital Chengdu at around 1 p.m. on Monday.
According to official media, so far 248 injuries have been reported and at least 12 people are still missing.
Pictures showed rescue workers transporting injured residents across temporary bridges in Luding County, near the epicenter.
The US Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was 43 kilometers (27 miles) southeast of the city of Kangding, which has a population of about 100,000. It added that it is estimated that more than a million residents in the surrounding areas experienced moderate tremors in the aftermath of the quake.
Some homes were badly damaged in the quake, with images emerging showing entire buildings that had collapsed into piles of bricks and wooden beams.
China activated a level 3 emergency response and dispatched rescue workers to Luoding County on Monday, according to China’s State Council. China’s CGTN broadcaster said rescue workers were helping to clear roads blocked by landslides caused by the quake.
The landlocked region is prone to earthquakes due to the Langmenshan Fault, which runs through the Sichuan Mountains.
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