Beijing, Sept. 7 (BNA) China reopened roads to the epicenter of the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit southwestern Sichuan Province on Monday and traffic resumed, state media reported Wednesday, while the death toll rose to 74.
In addition, a total of 259 people were injured in the disaster and 26 people were still missing as of Tuesday night, People’s Daily reported.
Reuters indicated that the strongest earthquake to hit the province since 2017, destroyed many buildings and severely damaged the infrastructure of electricity, water and telecommunications.
Rescuers rushed to reach stranded people, restore facilities and send emergency relief, while on Tuesday 11,000 people were evacuated from Luoding county, where the epicenter was.
Early Wednesday, the China Earthquake Networks Center recorded a magnitude 3 aftershock at the epicenter, at a depth of 12 kilometers (7.5 miles).
Meteorologists also warned of the possibility of heavy rain in the region until Friday.
HF