Earthquake claims over 110 lives in northwest China
Gansu and Qinghai provinces located in northwest China are affected
December 19, 2023
- Quake triggers widespread panic among people amid damage to structures.
- Gansu and Qinghai provinces were hit.
- The quake epicentre was located 10km beneath the surface.
BEIJING: Areas in northwest China felt tremors of a powerful but shallow earthquake that claimed the lives of at least 110 people, causing significant destruction to buildings and triggering widespread panic among residents.
According to Xinhua, the state news agency, the quake hit Gansu province, causing the collapse of numerous houses and prompting people to seek safety on the streets. The rescue operation commenced promptly following the disaster, with videos on social media revealing fallen ceilings and debris strewn across affected areas.
The state news agency cited provincial earthquake relief headquarters, saying that at least 96 people sustained injuries.
In the adjoining province of Qinghai, the city of Haidong witnessed nine deaths and injuries to 124 individuals, according to Xinhua.
The US Geological Survey recorded the magnitude of the earthquake at 5.9, originating 10 kilometres (six miles) beneath the surface. The tremors were felt at 11:59 pm local time on Monday. The quake occurred in Gansu province, close to the border with Qinghai province, which is where Haidong is situated.
The earthquake's magnitude was 6.2, according to Xinhua.
Some local communities experienced interruptions in their water and power supplies, according to Xinhua.
Emergency services, including fire departments, were swiftly dispatched as part of an emergency response plan enacted immediately after the quake. Provincial leaders were also en route to assess the situation on the ground.
The earthquake's epicentre lay approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province. Several smaller aftershocks followed the initial tremor, compounding the challenges faced by the affected regions.
This seismic event is a reminder of the country's susceptibility to earthquakes. Earlier in August, eastern China experienced a 5.4-magnitude quake that caused injuries to 23 individuals and the collapse of numerous buildings, highlighting the recurrent seismic activity in the area.
