First Pictures from Qinghai Quake

The first images have emerged of the aftermath of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that rocked China’s far western province of Qinghai this morning.

Xinhua reported early this afternoon: “About 300 people have died and 8,000 others were injured after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit northwest China's Qinghai Province early on Wednesday, a local official said…. Many others are still buried under the debris of collapsed houses near the epicenter, said Huang Limin, deputy secretary-general of the government of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu… Pupils of some primary schools were among the buried, but the number was unknown, said Shi Huajie, an army police officer in the rescue operation.”

The following images were taken from CNR.cn, but they have appeared on several local and international news sites.

The caption for these images reads: "A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit northwest Yushu country, China's Qinghai Province early on Wednesday. The pictures were shot by cell phone at the rescue site."