Across China: Shanxi

False earthquake rumored

Police have detained a person believed to be responsible for starting an earthquake rumor, which caused tens of thousands of people to flee their homes during the Spring Festival, information portal dahe.cn reported yesterday.

The rumor, which is believed to have started after a series of earthquake drills at local hospitals, warned that a destructive 6.0 magnitude quake would strike in the cities of Jinzhong, Changzhi, Jincheng and Taiyuan, the provincial capital.