Earthquake Strikes Northwest China, Leaves Over 100 Dead
A powerful earthquake shook northwest China, killing over 100 people and injuring hundreds more. The 6.2-magnitude quake struck late on Monday evening in the Gansu Province, according to Xinhua, the state news agency. The US Geological Survey also reported the earthquake, but at a slightly lower magnitude of 5.9.
The earthquake's epicenter was in Jishishan County, and the majority of the deaths occurred there. The neighboring Qinghai Province also reported 13 casualties. Xi Jinping, China's head of state and party leader, ordered immediate assistance to be provided to the affected areas.
Eyewitnesses reported that the earthquake caused extensive damage to roads and other infrastructure. Over 6,000 houses in Jishishan were damaged or destroyed, with several completely destroyed. As a result, several villages lost power and their water supply was interrupted. The region is considered one of the poorest in China, with many simple, traditional houses still in use.
The region experienced several aftershocks throughout the day, and the temperature was expected to drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. The provincial fire and rescue department sent helpers to the area, and the railroad authority suspended trains from passing through the earthquake zone.
Videos shared on social media showed students in Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu, rushing out of their rooms to seek safety during the night. The earthquake was also felt in other parts of the region.
According to eyewitnesses, earthquakes are frequent in the mountainous regions of western China, often affecting sparsely populated areas. The last major earthquake in China with many fatalities took place in the southwest of the country last year, where more than 70 people lost their lives.
In 2010, an earthquake in Qinghai province killed around 2,700 people. In 2014, around 600 people died in a quake in Yunnan province. In 2008, Sichuan province was struck by a severe earthquake of 7.9 magnitude, which killed over 80,000 people.
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The Chinese government has allocated funds for relief efforts in the affected provinces. For instance, Gansu Province received 50 million yuan (about $7.25 million USD) for relief efforts, with an additional 150 million yuan (approximately $21.6 million USD) later. International assistance is yet to be reported, but the first batch of aid arrived in earthquake-stricken Syria.
The rescue work is largely focused on providing immediate necessities, such as shelter, food, and medical care, to the victims, considering the cold weather and COVID-19 restrictions.
Due to the occurrence of frequent earthquakes in the mountainous regions of western China, many people in the affected areas live in simple, traditional houses, which are more susceptible to damage. The lack of modern infrastructure and resources in these areas further exacerbates the response efforts.
