Quake in western China kills 400

A strong earthquake hit a remote mountainous area of China Wednesday, killing about 400 people and injuring thousands as it toppled mud-and-wood houses and at least one school, burying many in rubble.About 10,000 people were injured in the quake of at least 6.9-magnitude which also disrupted telecommunications, knocked out electricity and triggered landslides in the north-western province of Qinghai. Rescuers were working with their bare hands to clear debris and find survivors from the rubble, with children said to be among the casualties. President Hu Jintao called for all-out efforts to save as many as possible. About 400 people have been confirmed dead, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting Huang Limin, a top official in the Yushu prefecture, where the quake was centred. Meteorologists are predicting strong winds and sleet in coming days, which could hamper rescue efforts. The quake wreaked havoc on the flimsy earth and wood houses near the epicentre a high-altitude area near the border with Tibet and at least 12 hours by road from the provincial capital. Some sturdier concrete structures were also toppled, state television showed. Xinhua reported that a reservoir was cracked, sending workers scrambling to prevent any outflow of water. Among the casualties were children trapped under the rubble of at least one collapsed school in Jiegu, with Xinhua reporting at least five students had died. Rescue teams and equipment were being rushed to the region from neighbouring areas, Xinhua said, but noted they could be hampered by infrastructure damage which included roads blocked by landslides. About 700 soldiers have been sent to look for survivors, and more than 5,000 other rescuers will be dispatched to the zone, officials in Qinghai said, according to Xinhua.