Earthquake in Yunnan, China

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, in China, at 08:30 UTC (16:30 local time) on 03 August 2014. The latest reports indicate that 398 people have been killed and thousands have been left homeless.

The powerful earthquake (which has also been estimated at 6.5 magnitude) was the strongest to affect Yunnan Province in fourteen years. The China Earthquake Administration have reported that as of 04 August over 400 less powerful aftershocks have also struck the region. Yunnan Province is located in south west China, which is an area prone to earthquakes.

Ludian and Qiajia County's were among the worst affected, and Ludian County experienced the majority of the casualties, with over 300 dead. It is estimated that 80,000 homes have been destroyed and 230,000 people have been evacuated. The cities of Zhaotong and Qujing suffered particularly, and thousands of emergency workers and soldiers are working to rescue people in the damaged parts of the cities.

The weather is making rescue efforts more difficult, however, with heavy rain also falling over the area, and storms are expected in Ludian County over the next few days. Due to the damage from the earthquake, roads have been blocked and communications and power severed in some areas, delaying the transit of vital supplies to survivors.

Emergency workers are nevertheless working hard in the meantime to help the survivors and treat the wounded with the supplies and equipment they have available.