In north-west China, a devastating earthquake resulted in the collapse of buildings, claiming the lives of at least 116 people, according to the Agence France-Presse report published on Tuesday.
Rescue efforts were urgently initiated amid freezing conditions as responders sought to clear rubble. Local officials in Gansu province confirmed 105 fatalities and nearly 400 injuries, with the powerful tremor occurring around midnight.
An additional 11 deaths and 100 injuries were reported in Haidong, Qinghai province, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The earthquake caused widespread damage, forcing people to flee into the streets for safety, the report said.
A woman, visibly shaken, described the harrowing experience in a video posted on a social media account linked to the state-run People’s Daily newspaper. Homes crumbled, and significant destruction occurred, as depicted in footage from CCTV, showing personal belongings amid the debris of a collapsed house.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “all-out efforts” in the search and relief operations, emphasising the need for caution due to freezing temperatures and the risk of secondary disasters.
The quake, initially recorded as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey, struck near the Gansu-Qinghai border. The epicentre was approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province.
Conflicting reports on the magnitude emerged, with Xinhua stating it as 6.2. Following the initial earthquake, several smaller aftershocks occurred, and authorities warned of potential tremors exceeding 5.0 in the coming days. A separate 5.2-magnitude quake was detected in Xinjiang province on Monday morning.
The affected area experienced disruptions in power and water supplies, particularly in villages around the epicenter. Emergency services set up tents, and residents gathered around fires for warmth. Over 1,400 firefighters and rescue personnel were deployed to the disaster zone, with an additional 1,600 on standby. Relief supplies, including drinking water, blankets, stoves, and instant noodles, were dispatched to the impacted region.
Evacuations were carried out in Gansu, where temperatures remained below freezing. The earthquake, occurring at a shallow depth at 11:59 pm local time, prompted a rapid response, with the USGS later revising the magnitude downward from the initial 6.0.
China has faced earthquakes in the past, and this recent event adds to a history marked by seismic activity, including the tragic 2008 quake that claimed over 87,000 lives, including thousands of schoolchildren.
