6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes China's southwestern Sichuan province... again!

[Breeze54]

3 dead as quake rattles southwestern China

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/30/china.quake.ap/index.html

# Story Highlights

* 6.1 magnitude earthquake strikes China's southwestern Sichuan province

* Three people killed according to state media reports

* 7.9 magnitude quake in Sichuan in May killed nearly 70,000

BEIJING, China (AP) --

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck China's southwestern Sichuan province Saturday, killing three people, state media said.

The earthquake hit 31 miles southeast of Panzhihua city in the southwestern corner of Sichuan at 4:30 p.m., the official Xinhua News Agency said.

The China News Service said three people died, citing the local county government.

Residents of Kunming, the capital of neighboring Yunnan province, felt a strong shock from the earthquake, with many running into the streets despite falling rain, it said. Telecommunications were temporarily cut but then restored, it said.

A duty officer at the State Seismology Bureau said the quake occurred in a mountainous area. He did not want to give his name, as is common with officials in China.

The bureau is still gathering information, he said.

On May 12, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in northern Sichuan killed nearly 70,000 people and left 5 million homeless. The region has been hit by scores of aftershocks, keeping people there on edge.

China says 3 have died? How much you want to bet it's more like 3,000?

This is really bad for the people there. Cripes!! :(