Strong Earthquake Rocks West China

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Yushu Tibetan autonomous county in China's western Qinghai province at 7:49 am (Beijing time), according to China Seismic Information Website.

The epicenter (37.6N, 95.8E) was located about 240 km north-west of Qamdo, Tibet and 375 km south-east of Golmud, Qinghai province.

In the wake of first quake, two strong aftershocks respectively with a magnitude of 4.7 and 6.3 hit the area at 8:12 am and 9:25 am, the website said.

The quake has killed at least 300 peoples and injured another 8,000, according to China National Radio.

Qinghai province and Tibet has dispatched a total of 102 rescuers to the quake-hit area, according to officials from the China Earthquake Administration. 

The US Geological Survey website reports the magnitude of the earthquake as 6.9.

Links and Sources
China Earthquake Administration: 青海等地震灾害紧急救援队已出发赶赴震区 (Chinese)
China Seismic Information: Image
USGS: Magnitude 6.9 - SOUTHERN QINGHAI, CHINA 2010 April 13 23:49:37 UTC
China National Radio: Over 300 Killed (Chinese)