Chinese earthquake (2008)

Chinese earthquake:
More than 10,000 people died when a 7.9 -magnitude earthquake struck southwestern China on monday 12th May 2008, The earthquake, felt as far away as Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam, struck about 100 kilometres northwest of the capital of Sichuan, Chengdu, the U.S. Geological Survey said on its website. It hit at 2:28 p.m. local time, when schools were full and office buildings were packed.

Greater than 200 people died in three other provinces, including Gansu and Yunnan, and in the municipality of Chongqing.

In Beijing, more than 1,500 kilometres from the epicentre, thousands of people fled office blocks, which were swaying wildly for more than two minutes after the quake struck.


Relief efforts:
The government and its media quickly mobilized, with nearly 20,000 soldiers, reservists and police sent to the area. But their efforts were being slowed by blocked routes and nightfall.

China's deadliest earthquake in modern history struck the northeastern city of Tangshan on July 28, 1976, killing an estimated 240,000 people.