From the BBC: Quake in Western China Buries Nearly 900 Students, and other stories
From the BBC:
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'Hundreds buried' by China quake
Almost 900 students have been buried by collapsed buildings during an earthquake in south-western China, state media reports.
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What a horrible start to the day, and to the week.
The BBC article quotes the following statistics for recent quakes in China:
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- March, 2008: 7.2 quake in Xinjiang - damage limited
- February 2003: 6.8 quake in Xinjiang - at least 94 dead, 200 hurt
- January 1998: 6.2 quake in rural Hebei - at least 47 dead, 2,000 hurt
- April 1997: 6.6 quake hits Xinjiang - 9 dead, 60 hurt
- January 1997: 6.4 quake in Xinjiang - 50 dead, 40 hurt
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In other news, US planes carrying aid land in Burma after days spent negotiating with the government, and a US researcher finds a way to kill stowaway plants and animals from marine ballast tanks:
_____US researchers say they have developed an effective way to kill unwanted plants and animals that hitch a ride in the ballast waters of cargo tankers.
Tests showed that a continuous microwave system was able to remove all marine life within the water tanks.
The UN lists "invasive species" dispersed by ballast water discharges as one of the four main threats to the world's marine ecosystems.
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That's all I've got for now -- busy, busy day ahead -- but I'm sure there's a lot more.
Have at it. :)
Comments
avahome
May 12, 2008 - 10:01
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For a good laugh...........
House G.O.P. Adopts Change Theme
I couldn't resist putting up a comment in this nyt blog. I keep wondering if the word STUPID is written across American foreheads! Let's all give the GOP what they deserve!!!!!
rba
May 12, 2008 - 12:09
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From China
Earthquake coverage on CCTV-1
James fallows is in China, and filed this entry this morning. Interesting read on the variations in coverage between foreign and in-country outlets.
GreyHawk
May 12, 2008 - 13:03
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Thanks, rba -- very interesting.
Reports I'm seeing on a few blog cites are saying ~thousands~ feared dead.
It was a big one.
jimstaro
May 12, 2008 - 20:31
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The Earthquake in China - NPR Right There
NPR's All Things Considered Hosts Melissa Block and Robert Siegel were in China doing a series to air next week when the Earthquake hit, they were some 60miles away from the epacenter of the quake.
This is the mainsite story page High Toll Feared as Earthquake Jars China that started todays broadcast.
There are a few other reports, at the site page above, but also live coverage as the quake hit and than what they saw.
Listen: Robert Siegel at a crowded hospital
They also had a diary started about the initial reports quickly changed now to their own personal experiances about the quake, Chengdu Diary
Tell the world: My America Doesn't Torture!
"The wise man points to the stars and the fool sees only the finger - and discusses it 24/7 on cable."