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| Earthquake measuring 7.8 Richter scale hits South West China |
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| 2008-05-12 00:00 |
A major earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province at 2:28 p.m. on Monday.
With a population of 111,800, Wenchuan lies in the southeast part of the Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Aba, 146 kilometers northwest of Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan.
Wenchuan is home to the Wolong Nature Reserve, China's leading research and breeding base for endangered giant pandas.
Minutes later, at 2:35 p.m., an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale jolted Tongzhou District in east Beijing.
Many other parts of China such as Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Lanzhou Yinchuan and Shanghai also reported tremors.
No casualties have been reported yet. Premier Wen Jiabao is heading for the quake-hit area.
Further information can be found at http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/12/content_8151822.htm
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