Strong quake hits China

A 7.5-magnitude quake struck western China today and was felt as far away as Thailand and Vietnam.

Thousands of people evacuated buildings in Beijing, some 900 miles (1,500) from the epicenter. China's tallest building, the Jinmao Tower, and other highrise buildings in Shanghai's financial district were also ordered evacuated.

The quake struck 57 miles (92 kilometers) northwest of the Sichhuan provincial capital of Chengdu at 2:28 p.m. (0628 GMT), the US Geological Survey said on its Web site. It said the 7.5-magnitude quake was centered 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) below the surface.

Calls to emergency response numbers in Chengdu rang constantly busy today. An eyewitness reached by phone in Chengdu said people flooded from buildings, but there was no immediate sign of damage or injuries.

The quake was centered on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau, where mountains rise sharply and the population density is generally thin.

In the Chinese capital Beijing, about 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) away, buildings swayed for more than two minutes but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Thousands of frightened office workers and shoppers evacuated buildings, including offices of the organizing committee for the Beijing Olympics. People lingered outside buildings in the central business district even a half-hour after the shaking stopped.

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake is considered a major event, capable of causing widespread damage and injuries in populated areas.

In the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the southeastern Chinese, buildings swayed when the quake hit. There were no immediate reports of  injuries or damage. A building in the Thai capital of Bangkok also was evacuated after the quake was felt there.