On May 27, reporters learned from the Sichuan Provincial Emergency Management Department, the Provincial Earthquake Administration, and the Provincial Fire and Rescue Corps that after a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck Muli County, Liangshan Prefecture (28.25 degrees north latitude, 100.7 degrees east longitude), the earthquake administration promptly organized experts to hold consultations and dispatched a working group of more than 20 people to the quake zone to organize and carry out earthquake monitoring and tracking, disaster situation investigation, and other work, while fire and rescue forces also rushed urgently to the epicentral area to verify the disaster situation and carry out related work.

Experts from the earthquake administration in a live连线 and consultation session. Photo courtesy of the Sichuan Earthquake Administration.

The China Earthquake Networks Center officially determined that at 11:07 on May 27, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred in Muli County, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan (28.25 degrees north latitude, 100.7 degrees east longitude), with a focal depth of 8 kilometers. The epicenter of this earthquake was 14 kilometers from Shuoluo Town, 17 kilometers from Guzeng Miao Ethnic Township, 20 kilometers from Ninglang Township, and 66 kilometers from the seat of Muli County.

After the earthquake, the Office of the Sichuan Provincial Earthquake Relief Command and the Sichuan Provincial Emergency Management Department held an emergency video link with the Liangshan Prefecture Emergency Management Bureau and the Muli County Emergency Management Bureau to assess the disaster situation, guide reconnaissance, search, and emergency rescue work, and dispatched national comprehensive fire and rescue and aviation emergency forces to reinforce the quake zone. The working group is rushing to the scene to guide earthquake relief work.

At the same time, the Sichuan Provincial Earthquake Administration launched an emergency response at the first opportunity, linked with the China Earthquake Administration and the China Earthquake Networks Center to report related work, learned in real time about the disaster situation and emergency response in the quake zone, studied and deployed the next steps, and required relevant units to conduct analysis and assessment of earthquake trends, accelerate the collection and reporting of disaster information, report relevant situations in a timely manner, and cooperate with local governments in carrying out emergency response and other work. It also promptly dispatched an on-site working group of more than 20 people led by Liao Qi, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Earthquake Administration, to the quake zone to organize and carry out earthquake monitoring and tracking, disaster investigation, and other work.

Earthquake rescue personnel assembled. Photo courtesy of Sichuan Fire and Rescue.

Reporters verified by telephone with the Liangshan Prefecture Fire and Rescue Detachment and the Muli County Fire and Rescue Brigade that slight tremors were felt in the Muli county seat when the earthquake occurred. Feedback by telephone from Shuoluo Town, Guzeng Miao Ethnic Township, and Ninglang Township indicated that no house collapses or casualties had been reported locally, and communications, power, and other services were all normal.

According to another message from the Sichuan Provincial Fire and Rescue Corps, the corps has activated a Level III earthquake rescue response and dispatched 2 vehicles and 13 people from the Muli Fire and Rescue Brigade to the epicentral area to verify the disaster situation. The 60-person, 15-vehicle earthquake rescue team of the Liangshan Fire and Rescue Detachment has also rushed to the epicenter. The earthquake rescue teams of the Garze, Ya'an, and Panzhihua detachments, with 82 vehicles and 220 people, have assembled and are on standby, ready for rescue work.

At present, no reports of casualties or property losses have been received from the magnitude 5.0 earthquake in Muli County, Liangshan Prefecture, and related disaster situation work is being further verified.