China quake death toll at nearly 600

Nearly 600 people have been confirmed dead as a result of the strong earthquake that reently struck China’s Yunnan Province, authorities say.

The 6.1-magnitude tremor struck a mountainous area on Sunday, destroying thousands of houses and triggering a number of landslides in the affected region.

China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs announced on Wednesday that a total of 589 people had been killed by the quake and nine others were still missing. It further said that more than 2,400 people were injured in the natural disaster.

The quake’s epicenter was in Longtoushan Township in Ludian County, a region with steep hills and narrow roads.

China has so far dispatched thousands of troopers to the area to assist survivors and search debris for potentially trapped people.

Tents and relief goods are also being brought in both by road and helicopter.

However, several roads have been blocked and there are concerns about barrier lakes that were formed when debris blocks rivers.

Meanwhile, relief teams trying to repair damaged roads are being hampered by torrential rain, falling rocks and aftershocks, local reports say.

Nearly 4,200 residents have so far been evacuated from one area because of a barrier lake on the Niulan River.Waters levels in the lake were rising at a rate of 16cm per hour, China’s state news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday, citing a technical specialist.

According to the report, 60 soldiers were also trapped by a flood from a barrier lake on Tuesday and had to be rescued.