Tragic earthquake in northwest China claims 116 lives

BEIJING, China – A devastating earthquake struck northwest China, claiming at least 116 lives as buildings collapsed under the force of the tremor.

The disaster unfolded in Gansu province, where 105 people lost their lives, and nearly 400 sustained injuries.

The neighboring province of Qinghai, particularly the city of Haidong, also reported casualties, with 11 fatalities and 100 injuries, as rescue teams raced against time to dig through the rubble.

The powerful earthquake, measured at a magnitude of 5.9 by the US Geological Survey, struck around midnight, causing extensive damage to structures and prompting people to flee their homes for safety.

The high-altitude area, where temperatures are below freezing, poses additional challenges for rescue operations.

“I was almost scared to death. Look at how my hands and legs are shaking,” expressed a woman in her 30s in a video posted on social media.

“As soon as I ran out of the house, the earth on the mountain gave way, thudding on the roof,” she added.

China president calls for swift rescue efforts

Rescue efforts began swiftly, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in search and relief work.

Given the freezing conditions, rescuers are cautioned about potential secondary disasters.

The earthquake’s epicenter, near the border with Qinghai, is approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Gansu’s capital, Lanzhou.

Chinese state media reported that several smaller aftershocks followed the initial quake, and officials warned of possible tremors with a magnitude exceeding 5.0 in the coming days.

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake was also detected in Xinjiang province on Monday morning.

Power and water supplies were disrupted in villages around the epicenter, and the impacted areas faced challenges due to the freezing temperatures.

Emergency services, including more than 1,400 firefighters and rescue personnel, were swiftly dispatched to the disaster zone.

Supplies, including drinking water, blankets, stoves, and instant noodles, were being sent to the affected areas.

In August, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit eastern China, injuring 23 people and causing the collapse of numerous buildings.

Similarly, in September 2022, a 6.6-magnitude quake struck Sichuan province, resulting in almost 100 casualties.

The memory of the catastrophic 7.9-magnitude earthquake in 2008, which left over 87,000 people dead or missing, remains etched in China’s collective consciousness.

• additional report via AFP