Strong Quake Kills Dozens in Southern China

A powerful earthquake struck the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan on Saturday, killing more than 70 people and injuring hundreds of others.

Over 2,000 soldiers rushed to the quake-hit area for rescue and relief work, Xinhua news agency quoted military sources as saying. The area is reportedly cut off the power and water supplies.

There was conflicting information about the earthquake's strength, with the USGS putting the magnitude at 6.6 and the China Earthquake Networks Center gauging it at 7.0.

The quake struck at 08:02 local time (00:02 GMT) and was measured at 12km below the surface, a shallow depth that usually indicates extensive damage.

Tens of thousands were killed in a quake that hit Sichuan in 2008.

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