China quake toll tops 80 as rain, flash floods hamper rescue efforts

AFP.com, 8 Sept, 2022- Rain, flash floods and mudslides threatened the search for dozens of people still missing on Thursday, days after a strong earthquake rocked mountainous southwest China, killing at least 82.

The magnitude 6.6 quake hit about 43 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the city of Kangding in Sichuan province at a depth of 10 kilometres on Monday, according to the US Geological Survey, forcing thousands to be resettled into temporary camps.

State broadcaster CCTV said that 46 people died in Ganzi prefecture near the epicentre, while 36 deaths were reported in neighbouring Ya’an city. 

More than 270 others were injured while the number of missing remained at 35, CCTV reported without giving more details about the situations of those unaccounted for. A yellow alert issued by the national weather service -- warning of a “risk of geological disaster” -- was in force until Thursday night, and moderate rain was forecast to continue to Friday with heavy showers in some areas.