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At Least 19 Dead After Powerful Earthquake Rocks Southwest China

The powerful quake struck Jiuzhaigou county in Sichuan province Tuesday night. The area is home to one of China's most famous national parks.

By: Briana Koeneman

Posted at 9:17 AM, Aug 09, 2017

and last updated 2017-08-09 09:17:50-04

At least 19 people are dead and hundreds others injured after an earthquake rocked a popular tourist area in China.

Local authorities told Xinhua News Agency the powerful quake struck Jiuzhaigou county in Sichuan province Tuesday night. The area is home to one of China's most famous national parks.

There was some debate over the earthquake's magnitude. Local media reported it was a 7.0 magnitude quake. But the U.S. Geological Survey said it measured in at 6.5 magnitude.

Regardless of its size, the earthquake did some major damage. Emergency responders were working to clear the debris Wednesday, hoping to find survivors trapped under the rubble.

And rescuers were evacuating thousands of tourists who had been stranded by the quake.

Sichuan is no stranger to strong earthquakes. Back in 2008, a massive tremor about 150 miles away from this recent quake left more than 80,000 people dead or missing.