On this day in 1976, hundreds of thousands of people were feared dead following an 8.3 magnitude earthquake in China. The quake virtually destroyed the city of Tangshan, north-east of Beijing, and Western sources believed the death toll may be much higher than the official figure of 240,000. Some believed the figure would be more like 750.000.
Around 2,000 people were believed to have died when the quake devastated the city's biggest hospital, according to sources quoting Chinese officials.
The Hong Kong Royal Observatory reports the earthquake was intense although speculation of the magnitude of the quake ranges from 6.3 to 8.3.
It was feared that many miners were buried alive in coal works in the industrial city which has a total population of 1.6m.
Up to 164,000 people were severely injured, according to initial reports from the city. Tremors were also felt in Beijing, where residents were urged to live in the streets and keep to open spaces as it was not thought to be safe to return to their homes in the city.
The force of the quake was so strong that people were thrown into the air after roads, bridges, railway stations, homes and factories were completely destroyed. The quake also knocked out power to the city, making rescue efforts difficult.
Chinese officials rejected any offers of help from the outside world, saying that survivors had enough to eat and wear and that there was sufficient medical supplies and doctors in the city.
Around 2,000 people were believed to have died when the quake devastated the city's biggest hospital, according to sources quoting Chinese officials.
The Hong Kong Royal Observatory reports the earthquake was intense although speculation of the magnitude of the quake ranges from 6.3 to 8.3.
It was feared that many miners were buried alive in coal works in the industrial city which has a total population of 1.6m.
Up to 164,000 people were severely injured, according to initial reports from the city. Tremors were also felt in Beijing, where residents were urged to live in the streets and keep to open spaces as it was not thought to be safe to return to their homes in the city.
The force of the quake was so strong that people were thrown into the air after roads, bridges, railway stations, homes and factories were completely destroyed. The quake also knocked out power to the city, making rescue efforts difficult.
Chinese officials rejected any offers of help from the outside world, saying that survivors had enough to eat and wear and that there was sufficient medical supplies and doctors in the city.
