Wenchuan Earthquake 10 Years On: Remembering China's deadliest quake in decades

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02:30

Today marks the anniversary of an earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people in Sichuan province, China. Ten years ago, a magnitude-8 quake struck Wenchuan county and its neighboring region at two-twenty-eight p.m. It was the most destructive earthquake to hit China in more than five decades. Millions were hurt and left homeless. Here's a recap of what happened on May 12th, 2008.

Disaster struck the heart of the nation. It was an ordinary afternoon when Wenchuan was thrown into chaos. Two fateful minutes.

Buildings were reduced to rubble, burying tens of thousands of people. To this day, thousands remain missing.

It was China's deadliest earthquake in decades. Local troops and police were the first to respond, followed by back up from across the country.

Within the first three days, hundreds of thousands of soldiers and police officers were on the job.

International rescue teams joined the race against time. Public response was tremendous. Some even volunteered to travel thousands of kilometers to help out.

Three days of national mourning were held a week later. And May 12th was designated a national day for disaster prevention and reduction. Since then, millions have paid their respects at the epicenter memorial site. Reconstruction took three years and the cost was immense.

Ten years on, Wenchuan and other hard-hit towns have been rebuilt. Out of the ruins, life goes on.