Big Earthquake Hits China

7.8 Magnitude

By Kristin White, Just Click Editor

Close to 5,000 could be dead after an earthquake hit China today, May 12. 900 students are trapped, after the collapse of their school. And 10,000 people are thought to be hurt.

The earthquake was rated at a 7.8 magnitude. The earthquake struck in the Sichuan Province of China, was felt hundreds of miles away in Beijing and Shanghai and as far away as Pakistan, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Of the 900 students trapped, four are known dead, all ninth graders, and it is unknown how many more are killed. Heavy cranes have been moved into to try and remove the rubble of the school.

There were also a few aftershocks.

Telephone and power were both affected, and in some areas even the water.

China's last earthquake occurred 2003, when 268 people were killed in a 6.8 magnitude, and it's deadliest happened in 1976 and 240,000 people were killed.

Chance Thunderstorms, Probability Of Precipitation: 50%

Hi 93°F
Lo 69°F
Prec. 50%

Partly cloudy, 72°F

7 Day Forecast