An earthquake measuring 7.8 on Richter scale struck China's Sichuan province on Monday, May 12, 2008, killing 5 children and injuring more than 100 people. The earthquake created panic among the people as they rushed out of their houses. Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency said that the deaths occurred when two primary schools collapsed in Liangping county of Chongqing.

 

The epicenter of the earthquake was Sichuan's Wenchuan County where telephone lines have been disrupted. Many buildings have been damaged and there are reports of massive casualties. Meanwhile, President Hu Jintao has issued orders for rescuing people from the affected areas. The earthquake was so massive that its effect was felt in Bangkok which is about 3,300 km away, where buildings rocked for several minutes.

 

Jinmao Tower in Shanghai and other buildings were quickly evacuated after the earthquake and its aftershocks. However, later some of the office workers returned back to work. The US Geological survey said on its website that the main quake stuck at a depth of 10 km at 0628 GMT. The state television said that a rescue team of 180 people have been prepared to fly to Sichuan.