Deadly 6.2 quake hits northwestern China, claiming 111 lives

Post by: Dr. Amrinder Pal Singh

A seismic event with a magnitude of 6.2 struck the cold and mountainous region of northwestern China, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 111 lives. Official reports highlighted ongoing search and rescue operations in both Gansu and Qinghai provinces. The earthquake, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers just before midnight on Monday, caused extensive damage to houses, roads, and critical infrastructure, disrupting power and communication lines.

State broadcaster CCTV reported 100 fatalities in Gansu and 11 in the neighboring province of Qinghai. Over 300 individuals sustained injuries, with 140 in Qinghai and 96 in Gansu. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake's magnitude at 5.9. The affected region, particularly Gansu’s Jishishan county, situated near the provincial boundary with Qinghai, experienced significant tremors.

The aftermath of the earthquake was felt in Lanzhou, the Gansu provincial capital, prompting university students to evacuate their dorms. The severity of the quake was evident as students, clad in pajamas on a cold winter night, rushed out in response to the intense tremors.

Videos and reports documented damage to water and electricity lines, transportation, and communication infrastructure. Emergency workers, facing challenging conditions with temperatures dropping to minus 15 to 9 degrees Celsius, engaged in rescue efforts. President Xi Jinping urged an all-out search and rescue initiative to minimize casualties.

The disaster prompted the dispatch of tents, folding beds, and quilts to the affected area. In a video posted by the Ministry of Emergency Management, workers used rods to shift heavy debris at night. State media showcased scenes of victims being lifted out and assistance provided in snow-covered areas.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in the mountainous western region of China, which forms the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. Last year, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan claimed 74 lives, while in 2008, a devastating 7.9 magnitude quake in the same province resulted in the loss of nearly 90,000 lives, leading to extensive reconstruction efforts with more resilient materials.

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