One possible version

Strange things happened in Tang Shan. For three days the water in the vil lage wells rose and fell. The well walls had deep cracks and a smelly gas came out the cracks. The chickens, pigs and mice were too nervous. Fish jumped out of bowls and ponds. Bright light appeared in the sky. People heard the sound of planes even when no planes were in the sky. The water pipes in some buildings cracked and burst.

At 3:42 am everything began to shake. It seemed that the world was at the end! One-third of the nation felt it. A huge crack cut across the city. In fifteen terrible seconds a large city lay in ruins.  Two-thirds of the people died or were injured. Nearly everything was destroyed in the city. 75% of its factories and 90% of its homes were gone. Then later that afternoon, another big earthquake shook Tangshan. People began to wonder how long the disaster would last.

But all hope was not lost. The army sent 150,000 soldiers to help them. Workers built shelters for survivors. Slowly, the city began to breathe again.