Because the quake occurred in the afternoon, it resulted in horrifying scenes of students buried in the rubble of collapsed schools. Many towns and villages were left in total ruins. With roads impassable, the mainland authorities had to use helicopters to bring in food and drinking water and to rescue victims of the disaster.
由於地震發生時間在下午，幾所學校校舍完全崩塌，不少學生被壓在鋼筋瓦礫下，景象淒慘；幾個受創嚴重的鄉鎮更是變成一片廢墟，道路柔腸寸斷，進出不得，中國官方只能以直升機空投糧食與水，搶救災民。