 Zhongba County has a population of approximately 18,000 and covers 43,594 square kilometers.It is prone to earthquakes and suffered a large one, 6.8 on the Richter scale, on 30 August 2008.Although the temblor left a north-south crack at the epicenter located at 31° north and 83.6° east, and houses were damaged and roads blocked by falling rocks, there were no reported injuries.