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Earthquake in ChinaThe 2008 Sichuan earthquake, or "Great Sichuan Earthquake", which measured at 8.0 Ms(moment magnitude scale) according to China Seismological Bureau (CSB), occurred at 14:28:01.42 CST on 12 May 2008 in Sichuan province of China. Since the earthquake's epicenter in Wenchuan County, Sichuan province, it was also known as the Wenchuan earthquake.
CASUALTIES and PROPERTY DAMAGE Wenchuan earthquake is considered to be the deadliest and strongest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. Official figures as of June 23 state that 69,185 are confirmed dead, 374,171 injured, 18,467 listed as missing, and 4.8 million homeless. Many schools were toppled and thousands of schoolrooms collapsed. Many families lost their only child during the earthquake. Millions of livestock and a significant amount of agriculture were also destroyed. The estimated total damages exceed US$20 billion. If compare these numbers to our community here in Virginia, 70% of Albemarle's residents would be gone, and 60% of Virginians homeless. However, these figures may further increase as more reports come in.
PANDA Sichuan is best known for its reserves of pandas. However, after the earthquake, the well-being of a great number of pandas in the reserves remained unknown initially. Six pandas escaped after their enclosures were damaged. By May 20, two pandas at the reserve were found to be injured, while the search continued for another two adult pandas that went missing after the quake, and were sadly found dead later.
RESCUE EFFORTS Not soon after the tragedy happened, ten emergency medical teams were immediately sent to Wenchuan County. On the same day, 50,000 troops and armed police were dispatched to help with disaster relief work there, with many rescue teams ready to join the rescue effort. However, due to the rough terrain and close proximity of the quake's epicenter, it was very difficult to get into the rural regions where thousands of people were in need of help. Persistent heavy rain and landslides in Wenchuan County and the nearby area also badly affected rescue efforts.
Reports from The New York Times IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies)
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