Quake in western China kills 400

A strong earthquake hit a remote mountainous area of China Wednesday, killing about 400 people and injuring thousands as it toppled mud-and-wood houses and at least one school, burying many in rubble. About 10,000 people were injured in the quake of at least 6.9-magnitude which also disrupted telecommunications, knocked out electricity and triggered landslides in the north-western province of Qinghai. Rescuers were working with their bare hands to clear debris and find survivors from the rubble, with children said to be among the casualties. President Hu Jintao called for all-out efforts to save as many as possible. About 400 people have been confirmed dead, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting Huang Limin, a top official in the Yushu prefecture, where the quake was centred.