A powerful earthquake hit northwest China, causing buildings to collapse and resulting in the death of at least 116 people. The quake struck Gansu province around midnight, with 105 reported dead and nearly 400 injured in that region. An additional 11 fatalities and 100 injuries occurred in the neighboring province of Qinghai. The earthquake, measured at magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey, caused homes to crumble and significant damage, leading people to flee for safety.
Residents described the terrifying experience, with one woman sharing a video on social media, expressing her fear as the earth shook and her house was hit by falling debris. President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” in search and relief work, emphasizing the need for caution due to freezing temperatures in the high-altitude area. The epicenter was near the border of Gansu and Qinghai provinces, impacting the city of Haidong.
Rescue efforts were underway despite challenging conditions, with temperatures below freezing. Chinese authorities mobilized over 1,400 firefighters and rescue personnel, with supplies such as drinking water, blankets, stoves, and instant noodles being sent to the affected area. The quake, initially reported as magnitude 6.2 by Chinese state media, triggered several aftershocks, and officials warned of the possibility of more tremors exceeding magnitude 5.0 in the coming days.
The earthquake disrupted power and water supplies in some villages, and footage showed residents trying to stay warm by a fire while emergency services set up tents. Evacuations were carried out in Gansu, and hundreds of firefighters and rescue workers were deployed to the disaster zone. The event follows a pattern of earthquakes in China, with a similar incident occurring in Sichuan province in September 2022, resulting in nearly 100 deaths.
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