The 2008 Sichuan
earthquake measured at 8.0 occurred at 14:28 local time on May 12, 2008 in
Sichuan province of China and killed at least 68,000 The epicenter was 80
kilometres west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, with a depth of 11
kilometres.
Official figures state that 69,227 are confirmed dead, including 68,636 in
Sichuan province, and 374,176 injured, with 18,222 listed as missing. The
earthquake left about 4.8 million people homeless, though the number could be as
high as 11 million. Approximately 15 million people lived in the affected area.
It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake.
Geoff Mackley and TV3 News presenter Mike Mc Roberts travelled there to document
the destruction. V3