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China: The country's state media reported on Tuesday (December 19) that at least 118 people have died in a remote and mountainous county in northwestern China following a 6.2 magnitude earthquake.
According to the China Earthquake Network Center (CENC), on Monday (December 18) around 11:59 AM local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 struck Jishishan County in Gansu Province at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Chinese state media, citing local authorities, reported by 9:30 AM local time that at least 105 people have died and 397 others were injured in Gansu Province after the rapid and intense tremors.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring Qinghai Province, at least 13 people have died, and 182 others were injured.
According to a report from the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, significant damage has been reported due to the earthquake, including collapsed buildings and houses, forcing people to flee to the streets for safety.
The number of missing persons after the earthquake was later updated to up to 20 people.
Amidst cold temperatures, search and rescue efforts are ongoing. The government media reported that rescue and relief efforts are underway, and a task force has been sent to assess the impact of the disaster. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for "full efforts" to ensure the safety of survivors along with search and rescue operations.
According to a report by CCTV, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management in China allocated $27.9 million (200 million yuan) for the earthquake-affected areas in Gansu and Qinghai provinces.
As per a report from the Chinese news agency, approximately 2,200 rescue workers from various local departments, along with professional emergency response teams, have been deployed. The military and police are also actively involved in rescue operations.
The earthquake occurred amid freezing temperatures, causing temperatures to drop below zero in most parts of the country. Therefore, efforts are underway to prevent secondary emergencies caused by factors beyond the earthquake.
CCTV, referring to one of the most affected areas, reported footage of residents warming themselves by the fire while emergency services have set up tents. According to Xinhua's report, the supply of electricity and water has been disrupted in some local villages.
In Linxia, Gansu, where the earthquake occurred, the temperature was as low as 14 degrees Celsius below zero by Tuesday morning.
About the Earthquake:
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9, and it occurred near the border of Qinghai in Gansu, where Jishishan is located. According to Xinhua, the strong tremors from the earthquake were felt in several parts of the neighboring Qinghai Province.
It is reported that the epicenter of the earthquake is about five kilometers from the border between Gansu and the neighboring province, and approximately 100 kilometers southwest of the Gansu provincial capital, Lanzhou.
According to CENC, in this area, there were a total of nine aftershocks with a magnitude of 3.0 or higher on Tuesday morning, two of which were at least 4.0 in magnitude.
China, especially in western provinces like Gansu, often experiences earthquakes as it is situated on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, which is a seismically active region.
5.5 Magnitude Earthquake in Xinjiang:
According to CENC's report, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake occurred in the northwestern Xinjiang region of China a few hours after the earthquake in Gansu. The earthquake in Xinjiang occurred at 9:46 AM local time.