Das Chinesische Erdbebendrama: Ludian county (Yunnan), China – 367 people killed

 

August 3, 2014 at 8:23 pm

Earthquake-report.com
We appreciate the collaboration of Jens Skapski, Claudia, James Daniell and Andreas Schaefer in gathering information for this report.

Earthquake-Report.com expects that this will be a deadly earthquake with huge amounts of damage. Follow our report to be the best informed in the world.

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Update 20:13 UTC : As it is in the middle of the Chinese night, no updates are given by the Chinese authorities. We will keep you updated if new information appears.

Important update 17:31 UTC : Important updates are mostly bad news, so is it now. The death toll increased to 367. 296 people were killed in Ludian county – In Zhaotong city 1 person was killed – In Qiaojia County, 60 people were killed and in Qujing Huize 10 people were killed. In Ludian county alone 1591 people were injured.

Update 17:10 UTC : The video below shows the extend of the damage as well as the difficult terrain the rescue operations have to occur.

Update 16:08 UTC : 9 additional fatalities are reported from Huize country.

Update 15:54 UTC : Chinese authorities are reporting now that at least 221 people are killed and still an unsure number missing. Sadly enough, the death toll will probably climb further.

Update 15:51 UTC : The Chinese authorities are calling an Earthquake Alert Weather IV for the region. This kind of alert takes into account extreme bad weather and will preparing the rescue response for this additional risk.

Update 15:34 UTC : As said earlier in this article, Chinese people are very generous in helping out their fellow Chinese if in trouble. Only hours after the earthquake donations are pouring in and people are volunteering to help in the rescue. The Chinese media are reporting a direct involvement of the President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping. He encourages his people and is telling them that every effort will be made to rescue people and help those needed.

Update 15:29 UTC : The Rescue and Relief forces have set up a mobile base station in the direct epicenter area. People can use it for free to call relatives and friends. We saw this kind of installation already working in the Sichuan earthquake last year. Congrats to the Chinese respnse team to organise this service. Mobile communications are working normally outside the direct epicenter area, including in Zhaotong.

Update 15:22 UTC : It is currently dark in China which will make the rescue efforts more difficult. Chinese rescue teams are well equipped with mobile power stations (eventually to be flown in by helicopter) but the spotlights can only flood a small portion of the devastated area.

Update 15:17 UTC : A very dangerous situation is currently building up for 800 people living along the riversides of the Kraal (Chinese translation) river . The normal river bed was blocked by the earthquake landslides and a lake has been forming. Earlier earthquakes had the same problems sometimes ending in disastrous events. Let’s hope people will be able to evacuate the area in due time.

Update 15:03 UTC : Rescue personnel has now reached the epicenter area. They are dazzled by the devastation. A lot of houses are flattened to the ground including the Police headquarters and the town hall.

Important Update 14:06 UTC The following is the Chinese epicenter and intensity distribution with at least VIII intensity being at the epicenter. Unfortunately, this means using theoretical models that at least 10 billion USD losses will be seen.