(CNN) -- A rapid series of strong earthquakes hit China's Qinghai province early Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. At least 67 people were killed, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the China Earthquake Administration. Many others were feared buried under debris after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck at 7:49 a.m. local time (7:49 p.m. ET Tuesday), when many people were probably still at home. A Chinese military official told Xinhua that the death toll was expected to rise given the damage to homes. He said dispatched soldiers were setting up tents and transporting oxygen for the injured but affected roads leading to the airport could hamper relief efforts. iReport: Are you there? Send your photos, video, stories The epicenter was located in a remote, mountainous area about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Qamdo, Tibet. Qinghai borders the autonomous regions of Tibet and Xingjiang and the provinces of Gansu and Sichuan. The USGS also recorded two strong aftershocks -- of magnitudes 5.2 and 5.3 -- within half an hour of the quake. Citing the China Earthquake Networks Center, Xinhua said the quake hit the county of Yushu, a Tibetan region of Qinghai with about 80,000 people. It said residents near the epicenter reported casualties and collapsed buildings. Karsum Nyima, deputy director of news at local Yushu TV, told Xinhua that most of the houses in the area were made of wood with earthen walls. He said some had come tumbling down, including a Buddhist pagoda in a park. In 2008, 70,000 people died when a 7.9 earthquake rocked neighboring Sichuan province, northwest of its capital, Chengdu link
I think I've read somewhere that this year isn't that abnormal quake-wise, but it does seem like some major ones lately.
There might not be more earthquakes but better reporting means we are hearing about them more and they happen to be striking more populated areas.
I keep hearing this, but it doesn't satisfy. Are we that more advanced in terms of picking up quakes and sharing the info then we were 2 or 5 or 10 years ago? I think not. I could consider the argument that they are happening in more populated places, but I'm not sure I fully buy it. Same for the argument that we are more sensitized because of the tsunami and Haiti. It sure seems to me we are experiencing an uptick. I just hope it doesn't lead to something really big... aren't we due for a super-volcano eruption? If so, it will be the ultimate irony... man spends thousands of years acquiring knowledge and altering the Earth so that he finally is able to predict and understand but not prevent something that causes worldwide destruction.
