Earthquake Strikes Gansu Province in China, Claiming Lives
The province of Gansu in northwest China has been hit by a violent earthquake, resulting in at least 118 fatalities and over 500 injuries. According to Xinhua, the state news agency, the quake, measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, hit late on Monday evening. The majority of the casualties occurred in Jishishan County, with 105 deaths reported. The neighboring province of Qinghai reported 13 fatalities as well.
China's president and party leader, Xi Jinping, called for immediate action to rescue those affected. Witnesses reported the quake causing damage to roads and infrastructure, leaving over 6,000 houses in Jishishan County in ruins. Several villages were left without power, and the water supply was disrupted.
The temperatures in the area are expected to drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. Natural disaster response teams, fire departments, and railway authorities have been dispatched to the affected areas.
The horrifying scenes were captured in Chinese state media showing people fleeing their homes, seeking refuge in blankets amidst the wintry weather. Rescue teams were seen scouring the rubble for survivors.
Witnesses from nearby Lanzhou reported feeling the quake as well. Students from Lanzhou University were seen running from their dormitories in panic during the night.
Earthquakes are common in the mountainous regions of western China, typically occuring in sparsely populated areas. However, the quake in Gansu Province was more devastating than usual due to its proximity to populated areas. The last significant earthquake in China, with numerous fatalities, occurred in the southwest of the country in 2022, leading to over 70 deaths.
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Earlier this year, China was also hit by a powerful earthquake in the Sichuan Province, killing over 80,000 people. Seismic activities are a part of China's geological makeup, making earthquake preparedness and response essential for local communities and authorities.
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Recent earthquakes in China have been characterized by widespread destruction, loss of life, and infrastructure damage. For instance, a major earthquake that hit northern China's Tangshan region in 1976 is still considered one of the deadliest earthquakes in recorded history, with an estimated 700,000 fatalities.
In 2008, a severe earthquake struck the Sichuan Province, with a magnitude of 8.0. This disaster resulted in around 80,000 deaths and extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. In response to the disaster, China implemented significant upgrades to earthquake preparedness and response measures.
Compared to other parts of the world, earthquake risk in China is reduced due to the country's strict building codes and robust infrastructure. However, remote areas are often vulnerable due to a lack of resources and preparedness, making earthquakes like the one in Gansu Province particularly devastating. Earthquakes in China and other seismically active regions of the world highlight the importance of earthquake preparedness, warning systems, and response measures.
