Rescuers search for the missing after earthquake hit China

Rescue efforts are underway following a earthquake that killed at least 65 people and left hundreds stranded in China’s southwestern Sichuan province.

Rescuers scoured through rubble in remote villages on Tuesday to find survivors and those missing after the earthquake triggered landslides and shook buildings as far away as the provincial capital Chengdu, 200 km (124 miles) from the epicentre.

The local meteorological department has warned that Luding county will also experience rain for three days, potentially hampering rescue efforts.

It has been reported that 243 houses had collapsed and 13,010 had been damaged and more than 50,000 people have been relocated and tents have been erected to provide shelter following the earthquake.

Rescuers are working to restore telecommunications services and power and water utilities, as well as delivering food supply to residents. The quake cut power to several towns, while a number of highways collapsed and seven small-to-mid-sized hydropower stations suffered damage.