7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Southwestern China

Thousands have been reported dead as a result of an earthquake in China. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake went through western China this morning. At least 8,533 people have been reported dead as a result.

According to China's Xinhua news service, the earthquake's epicenter was located at 31.0 degrees North latitude and 103.4 degrees East longitude. That places the quake in Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sinchuan Province. The epicenter's exact location is considered a mountainous region outside of Chengdu, the capital city of Sinchuan. The population of Chengdu is 10 million. The quake occurred at 2:28 p.m. in China's Standard Time (GMT +8).

At least three schools are reported to have collapsed. Five people were confirmed dead as of 5:20 p.m. At least 110 people were injured.

According to The Independent, the earthquake trapped 900 high school students in Dujiangyan, a city in Sinchuan. Excavation efforts are underway in an attempt to save as many students as may still be alive in the wreckage.

According to Dr. George Pararas-Carayannis, China is located in "one of the most active seismic regions of the world." Three earthquakes in China's history stand out as some of the most severe in history. The first, in 1556, has been recorded as the worst natural disaster in recorded history in terms of lives lost. This earthquake took place in the Shensi Province of China's city of Hausien. With a magnitude of 8.0-8.3 on the Richter scale, the quake killed a total of 830,000 people. The second severe quake took place in February of 1975 in Haicheng. The quake was a 7.3 magnitude on the Richter scale. A third occurred in Tangshan, Northern China, in July of 1976.

Earlier this year, in March, CNN reported four earthquakes that hit western China in one day. No immediate reports of damage or injuries were reported. The strongest of these quakes had a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale.