Earthquake Hits Southwestern China

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake (some sources say 7.1) has killed at least 400 and wounded 10,000 today in Qinghai province, China, in the country's mountainous Tibetan Plateau (see "Earthquakes in China Kill 400, Injure Thousands" in today's NPR). The earthquake produced several aftershocks, and sources say 70 percent of schools in the region have collapsed. Many people are still trapped inside buildings, so it is feared that the death toll may rise. Over 5,000 soldiers, medical workers and other rescuers have been called up to join 700 soldiers already on the ground, China' Xinhua news agency has reported. Following are some Chinese, U.S., and international resources about this natural disaster:

• Chinese Government's Official Web Portal: "Hu, Wen Urge All-Out Efforts to Save People in Quake-Hit Zone"
• International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Information Bulletin, China: Earthquake
• Red Cross Society of China: "RCSC Makes Emergency Response to 7.1-Magnitude Quake in Quinghai"
• ReliefWeb: "ShelterBox Responds to Earthquake in Western China"
• U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Details

To find other resources about China, including official government web pages, see our guide to China.