An earthquake magnitude of 6.2 in the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai in northwest China claimed at least 118 lives, according to official media. There were rescue and search operations taking place in China’s Qinghai and Gansu provinces. According to reports from the Chinese media, the earthquake destroyed houses and roads, injured over 500 people, and cut off power and communication lines.
An important directives regarding the earthquake were issued by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who called for extensive search and rescue operations, appropriate relocation of impacted individuals, and the highest level of effort to guarantee the safeguarding of individual’s life and their possessions stated by Global Times.
The USGS revised the magnitude of the earthquake downward from its initial report of 6.0, citing a depth of 10 kilometers at 11:59 p.m. local time on Monday. The US Geological Survey recorded the magnitude of the earthquake as 5.9, while Xinhua recorded it as 6.2. The earthquake occurred in Gansu province, close to the border with Qinghai province, which is where Haidong is located.
Some local villages experienced interruptions in their water and power supplies, the report stated. Videos shared on social media showed collapsed ceilings and other debris.
Soon after the earthquake, officials launched an emergency response, sent rescue workers to the scene, and sent provincial leaders on their way, according to Xinhua.
The USGS reports that multiple smaller aftershocks were felt after the earthquake, which happened about 100 kilometers southwest of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province.
According to the news agency, the earthquake severely damaged areas, including houses that collapsed, and forced people to flee into the street in search of safety. Early on Tuesday, rescue operations got under way.
Earthquakes often occur in China due to its location where the Eurasian, Indian and Pacific plates meet and makes China an earthquake prone country.
A 5.4-magnitude earthquake that occurred in August in eastern China caused the collapse of numerous buildings and injured 23 people. Similarly in September, many were killed in a 6.6-magnitude earthquake in the southwestern Sichuan province. In 2010, Yushu, Qinghai province seen the devastating earthquake that left nearly 2,700 people dead.
Netizens reacted to this deadly situation in China
