In a devastating incident, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 rocked Jishishan County in Gansu Province, China. The catastrophe occurred late on Monday night, claiming at least 131 lives and leaving hundreds injured. This marks China’s most severe earthquake in over a decade.
The quake wreaked havoc, damaging roads, demolishing houses, and disrupting electricity and communication lines. Faced with the sudden disaster, residents rushed outdoors, enduring freezing winter temperatures overnight. Rescue efforts were immediately launched to search for survivors buried under the rubble.
As of Tuesday morning, state broadcaster CCTV confirmed 113 fatalities and 772 injuries in Gansu Province alone. Meanwhile, the neighboring province of Qinghai reported 198 injuries, 16 missing individuals, and 18 casualties. Over 15,000 houses collapsed, compelling the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, according to the state broadcaster.
The rescue mission faced additional challenges due to subzero temperatures, with a powerful cold wave gripping most parts of China. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” in search and relief operations. A substantial force of nearly 1,500 firefighters, with an additional 1,500 on standby, and over 300 officers and soldiers were mobilized for disaster relief.
China’s state planner promptly allocated 250 million yuan (USD 35 million) to assist the affected provinces of Gansu and Qinghai. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.2, struck at 23:59 pm on Monday, causing significant damage near the border with Qinghai, according to state news agency Xinhua.
The nation now faces the challenging task of recovery and rebuilding in the aftermath of this tragic event.
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