A large earthquake that's hit southwest China and the China Earthquake Networks Center says a magnitude 7.0-tremor hit Lushan county in Ya'an city in Sichuan province early today.

Reporter said that 41 people have been killed and more than 600 injured. The epicenter was at a depth of 13 kilometers, and was monitored at 30.3 degrees north latitude, and 103.0 degrees east longitude. It was felt in the provincial capital Chengdu, and Leshan city. Eleven aftershocks have been reported, ranging from magnitude 3.6 to 5.1. The Chengdu military has sent 2,000 troops to the area.

Injured people receive medical treatment at the People's Hospital in Lushan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, April 20, 2013. [Xinhua]

The Red Cross Society of China also responded with disaster-relief materials. Shuangliu International airport in Chengdu has apparently reopened after being temporarily closed, but communications in the region have been badly affected.

And President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang have instructed emergency teams to make saving lives their top priority, and do all they can to rescue affected people.

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