Earthquake of 6.2 magnitude hits China,116 died

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

At least 116 died in an earthquake of 6.2 magnitude in northwest China‘s Gansu and Qinghai provinces. Chinese state media reported this.

According to another source, 105 died in the province of Gansu.

Another 11 died in neighbouring Qinghai province in the earthquake. It occurred late on Monday night.

Students evacuate from their dormitory at the Lanzhou University Yuzhong campus in Lanzhou in northwestern China’s Gansu province Tuesday, after an earthquake hit the area.

Search and rescue operations were underway in Gansu province and Qinghai province of China.

The earthquake injured more than 230 people, damaged houses and roads and knocked out power and communication lines.

Local authorities in China’s Gansu province said, as of 7:50am, 105 died in a magnitude-6.2 earthquake.

Over 4,700 houses were damaged. As of 9:30am, the quake had injured 397, they said at a news conference.

According to a news agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued important instructions regarding the earthquake.

It is demanding full-scale search and rescue efforts, proper resettlement of affected people and maximum efforts to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.

China earthquake causes severe damages

The earthquake caused severe damage including houses that collapsed. People were running into the street for safety, the news agency said.

Rescue work was underway early on Tuesday.

The earthquake struck in Gansu province near the border with Qinghai province where Haidong is located.

The was logged as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey and magnitude 6.2.

Power and water supplies were disrupted in some local villages, the report added. Fallen ceilings and other debris could be seen in videos posted on social media.

Epicentre of China earthquake

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers at 11:59 pm local time Monday. According to the USGS, which revised the magnitude downward after initially reporting 6.0.

Officials launched an emergency response and dispatched rescue personnel to the area just after the quake, and provincial leaders were also en route, a reported.

According to USGS, the earthquake occurred some 100 kilometres southwest of Gansu province’s capital, Lanzhou, and was followed by several smaller aftershocks.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in China. In August, a shallow 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern China, injuring 23 people and collapsing dozens of buildings.

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