Northwestern China Hit by Deadly 6.2 Earthquake
A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck northwestern China, killing more than 100 people and injuring several others as many were asleep when disaster struck. The tremors were felt across a wide area, causing significant damage in Gansu Province near the border with Qinghai.
According to Gansu provincial authorities, 105 people have been confirmed dead and 397 injured as of 7:50am local time. More than 4,700 houses were damaged, with power and water supplies disrupted in some villages.
In the nearby city of Haidong in Qinghai, at least 11 people were also killed. Residents living close to the epicenter described the terrifying experience of being tossed around like “surging waves”, forcing them to flee from their homes onto the streets. The earthquake struck in the midst of freezing temperatures, with people huddling together outside in sub-zero conditions.
Rescue efforts are underway, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in the search and relief work. Nearly 1,500 firefighters and 1,500 additional personnel are deployed, and supplies including drinking water, blankets, stoves, and instant noodles are being sent to the affected areas.
The US Geological Survey reported the quake as a magnitude 5.9, while the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said it was a magnitude 6.1. Several aftershocks were reported following the initial quake.
Gansu is located in an earthquake-prone region and is home to about 26 million people. The area is tectonically active, and quakes are common in the western provinces such as Gansu. In 2008, a 7.9 magnitude quake in Sichuan left more than 87,000 people dead or missing, including thousands of school children. The history of earthquakes in China, including the 1976 Tangshan earthquake which killed at least 242,000 people, underscores the deadly threat posed by seismic activity in the region.