In Northwest China, a powerful earthquake struck, causing widespread devastation. The Jishishan earthquake resulted in 131 fatalities, with 113 in Gansu Province and 18 in Qinghai Province. Almost 1,000 people were injured, and 16 are still missing. The Global Times reported that 87,000 people were evacuated to safety, and over 15,000 houses collapsed, affecting 145,736 people.
Rescue efforts have been underway, with 78 trapped individuals successfully saved and 6,653 people evacuated by Wednesday morning. Authorities have set up 360 tents, cleared 683 hazardous areas, and delivered 47 tons of relief supplies. After 10 hours of continuous work, damaged roads leading to the epicenter have been cleared, allowing access for relief vehicles. All routes within the Lanzhou Railway Bureau have resumed normal operations.
The earthquake caused secondary disasters, such as moving sand in Minhe county, Qinghai. Two villages faced mudslides, leading to 20 individuals going missing. In Jintian village, Gansu, rushing sand destroyed houses of 36 families, with 13 people still missing. Rescue operations are underway, but the thick sludge covering the area requires heavy machinery for removal.
Despite the challenges, progress has been made. The damaged power grid circuits have been fully restored, and the State Grid Gansu Electric Power Company confirmed this. A total of 423 aftershocks, including 10 with a magnitude of 3.0 or higher, have been recorded. The affected regions are now focusing on post-disaster management, including treating the injured and resettling displaced people. The resilience of the affected communities and ongoing relief efforts demonstrate a collective determination to rebuild and recover.
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