November 22, 2014 Earthquake: Garze, Sichuan Province, China

Five people killed, 65 injured, more than 9,100 displaced, 30 homes collapsed and 27,400 severely damaged in Garze. Felt (III) at Chengdu. Also felt at Huayang. (reference #13456)

A strong earthquake struck a lightly populated, mountainous area of western China on Saturday, killing at least one person, injuring 15 others and causing at least two homes to collapse, officials and state media said. The United States Geological Survey said the magnitude-5.9 quake had a depth of nine miles. It struck in the late afternoon about 20 miles from the town of Kangding in Sichuan Province. China's seismological agency said the quake's magnitude was 6.3. A woman in her 70s died after being struck by a falling window pane, said the official Xinhua News Agency and the state broadcaster CCTV, citing Chen Yunbing, a doctor at the region's Ganzi People's Hospital. No additional information was given about the 15 injured. A duty officer at the Kangding County government officers, who gave his surname as Xia, said that the quake lasted only a few seconds, and that there had been some reports of cracks in buildings and toppled walls. The area is frequently struck by earthquakes, and Mr. Xia said newly constructed buildings in the town of Kangding must be able to withstand quakes with a magnitude of up to 8, although requirements are less strict in the surrounding rural area. Along with the two collapsed homes, Kangding's regional airport sustained some damage, though flights were not disrupted, Xinhua said. (reference #11136)

5 deaths 65 injured, 50 million USD total damage (reference #1250)