According to the government, sixty-nine thousand two hundred and twenty-seven people died, three hundred and seventy-four thousand and six hundred and forty-three people were hurt. Also, seventeen thousand and nine hundred and twenty-three people were missing. The earthquake left about four point eight million people homeless, though the number could be as high as eleven million. Approximately fifteen million people lived in the affected area. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, which killed at least 240,000 people, and the strongest since the 1950 Chayu earthquake in the country, which registered at 8.5.After the location of the earthquake's epicenter, Wenchuan City in Sichuan province. The epicenter was 80 kilometres, west north-east of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, with a focal depth of 19 kilometres.
Strong aftershocks, some exceeding magnitude 6, continued to hit the area even months after the main quake, causing new casualties and damage.
On November 6, 2008, the Chinese government announced that they will spend 1 trillion yuan over the next three years to rebuild areas ravaged by the earthquake.
