NEWS: Earthquake Strikes Central China

This is breaking news, so I do not have much info. At least 5 people have been killed in a magnitude 5.7 earthquake in Hubei province. Many buildings have been toppled, ranging into the thousands and the death toll is expected to rise.



I do not have much to add at the moment apart from my hope that the death toll is not that high, but I fear it may be with reports of thousands of buildings collapsing.


EDIT: The latest info seems to indicate that as much as 4000 buildings may have been destroyed. The only consolation is that it was rush hour, so we can hope that many people will have been out and about going to work, rather than at home or in the office.

Latest death tolls have risen to 11 people, but I am sure this will rise. However, it is relatively low when compared to the Earthquake last month in Pakistan where many thousands died.


[edit on 25/11/05 by stumason]

Lets hope that the death toll doesn't rise much further.

Any geological types out there shed any more light on this region, like how earthquake prone it is?

Could there be a link to recent earthquakes throughout S E Asia in the past year?

[edit on 25/11/05 by stumason]

I have a feeling every major quake in the region that makes the news is related.
Due to the currently hot topic of China's former leaders desiring war with the US, the conspiracy theorist in me tosses a couple more points on the "Earthquakes as a weapon" speculation chart.

I'm still waiting for "the big one" here in Missouri, USA. The greatest magnitude quake in recorded history took place about 300miles from me in the "bootheel" of Missouri, known as the New Madrid fault. In recent months there have been a couple small tremors in the state. History says the New Madrid is long overdue for a massive shaking.

Well APC, the conspiracy theorist in you may be well interested to know that Hubei is one of the latest areas to be swamped with the Bird Flu. Combine those two disasters and it does not bode well for the people.