An earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck China's Sichuan province on Saturday, killing more than 150 and injuring more than 3,000.

The quake struck at 8:02 am epicenter time. It was generated at a depth of 7.6 miles. The shallow depth at which the quake occurred intensified its effect. The earthquake was centered where the Sichuan Plains meets the steep foothills of the Tibetan Plateau along the Longmenshan fault.

The shaker, triggered landslides that blocked roads, toppled buildings, and disrupted power and phones.

7,000 rescuers, of which thousands were Chinese military personnel, responded to the scene with heavy equipment,escavators,tents, blankets, and emergency supplies. Helicopters and other aircraft surveyed the scene from the air. One rescuer died during the operation when the vehicle he was in with at least a dozen others, slid from the road and rolled down an embankment.

A triage center was set up at the Lushan County Hospital where victims were brought in for treatment of their injuries.

That province, Sichuan, was struck as recently as 2008 with a powerful 8.0 magnitude quake. That incident took the lives of over 70,000 people.