Deadly Earthquake in Northwest China Kills at least 95

(CTN News) – According to the official news agency, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in northwest China’s Gansu and Qinghai provinces killed at least 95 people.

Xinhua News Agency said that 86 people were killed in Gansu province and 9 in neighboring Qinghai province as a result of the earthquake that happened late Monday night.

After the powerful, shallow earthquake hit the province, the news said more than 200 people were hurt. The city of Haidong in the neighboring province of Qinghai also saw nine fatalities and 124 injuries, according to Xinhua.

Official news outlets According to Global Times, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued Important orders on the earthquake, demanding massive search and rescue operations, safe relocation of impacted individuals, and the utmost precautions to protect lives and property.

 

China earthquake causes severe damages.

The news agency reported that the earthquake triggered widespread destruction, including the collapse of homes, and survivors fled into the streets in search of protection. As early as Tuesday morning, rescue efforts got underway.

The earthquake, which Xinhua reported as 6.2 on the Richter scale and the US Geological Survey as 5.9 on the surface, hit Gansu province close to the border with Qinghai province, where Haidong is situated.

According to the report, some nearby villages experienced disruptions to their power and water supplies. Video footage shared online showed collapsed ceilings and other wreckage left behind.

Epicentre of China earthquake

After first reporting a magnitude of 6.0, the USGS amended it downward and stated that the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers at 11:59 p.m. local time on Monday.

Xinhua said that provincial leaders were also making route to the earthquake scene, and that officials had immediately begun an emergency response by sending rescue workers to the region.

The US Geological Survey reports that the main earthquake and a series of minor aftershocks happened around 100 km southwest of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province.

In China, earthquakes happen frequently. A shallow 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit eastern China in August, causing scores of structures to collapse and wounding 23 people.