Earthquake Hit China’s Sichuan, Killing At least 71

A view of a collapsed building with a sign reading, “Lushan Kindergarden” after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province is seen in this April 20, 2013 still image taken from TV. The earthquake hit the province on Saturday, killing at least 28 people and injuring at least 100 close to where a big quake killed almost 70,000 people in 2008. REUTERS/China Central Television (CCTV) via REUTERS TV

China’s Sichuan province was hit by an earthquake on Saturday morning April 20, 2013.

The official Xinhua news agency reported that at least 71 people were killed while more than 2200 others were injured.

The earthquake occurred at 8.02 a.m. (0002 GMT) in Lushan county near Ya’an city and the epicenter had a depth of 12 km (7.5 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said.

China’s seismological bureau measured the earthquake at magnitude-7 while the U.S. Geological Survey at 6.6.

It was reported that nearly all of the structures in Longmen village collapsed and that nearly 10,000 houses were damaged throughout the county.

Water and electricity were cut off in Lushan.

The shallow depth of the earthquake caused greater damages to the area.

Hard-hit parts of the county remained unreachable by road, with several highways cut off.

On May 12, 2008, a devastating 7.9-magnitude quake struck the nearby area leaving more than 90,000 people dead or missing and presumed dead.

Please click the photos for larger images:

Residents, pictured through a car window, drive past collapsed buildings near Lushan county, Ya’an, Sichuan province, April 20, 2013. A strong 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Saturday, killing at least 56 people and injuring about 600 close to where a big quake killed almost 70,000 people in 2008. REUTERS/Stringer

REFILE – CORRECTING COUNTY Collapsed houses are seen after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Lushan county, Ya’an, Sichuan province April 20, 2013. The earthquake hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Saturday, killing at least 56 people and injuring about 600 close to where a big quake killed almost 70,000 people in 2008. REUTERS/Stringer

Rescuers try to remove rocks blocking a road after a strong earthquake of 6.6 magnitude hit Lushan county, Ya’an, Sichuan province April 20, 2013. The earthquake killed at least 56 people and injured about 600 close to where a big quake killed almost 70,000 people in 2008. REUTERS/Stringer

An aerial view shows houses damaged after a strong earthquake in Lushan county, Ya’an, Sichuan province, April 20, 2013. At least fifty-six people were killed and more than 500 others injured in the earthquake, according to Xinhua News Agency. REUTERS/China Daily

An aerial view shows houses damaged after a strong earthquake in Lushan county, Ya’an, Sichuan province, April 20, 2013. At least fifty-six people were killed and more than 500 others injured in the earthquake, according to Xinhua News Agency. REUTERS/China Daily

An aerial view shows houses damaged after a strong earthquake in Lushan county, Ya’an, Sichuan province, April 20, 2013. At least fifty-six people were killed and more than 500 others injured in the earthquake, according to Xinhua News Agency. REUTERS/China Daily

People walk on rubble after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province in this April 20, 2013 still image taken from TV. The earthquake hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Saturday, killing at least 28 people and injuring at least 100 close to where a big quake killed almost 70,000 people in 2008. REUTERS/China Central Television (CCTV) via REUTERS TV

A view of a collapsed building with a sign reading, “Lushan Kindergarden” after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern China’s Sichuan province is seen in this April 20, 2013 still image taken from TV. The earthquake hit the province on Saturday, killing at least 28 people and injuring at least 100 close to where a big quake killed almost 70,000 people in 2008. REUTERS/China Central Television (CCTV) via REUTERS TV

In this photo provided by China’s official Xinhua News Agency, a giant rock blocks the road, about 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the county seat of Lushan in Ya’an city, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Saturday, April 20, 2013. A powerful earthquake jolted China’s Sichuan province Saturday near where a devastating quake struck five years ago. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Hai Mingwei)

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