A powerful earthquake struck northwestern China, causing widespread destruction, with homes reduced to rubble and leaving residents exposed to freezing temperatures. The quake, measuring 6.2 in magnitude, occurred just before midnight on Monday, affecting Gansu and Qinghai provinces. This event resulted in the deadliest earthquake in China in nine years, claiming the lives of 131 people and injuring over 700 others.
The earthquake, which had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, struck Gansu’s Jishishan county, near the provincial boundary with Qinghai. The aftermath included collapsed buildings, landslides, and disrupted power and communication lines. Emergency workers conducted search and rescue operations, while those who lost their homes endured a cold night in tents at hastily arranged evacuation sites. State broadcaster CCTV reported 113 confirmed deaths and 536 injuries in Gansu, with an additional 18 fatalities and 198 injuries in Qinghai, located north of the epicenter. A series of aftershocks, with the largest measuring 4.1 in magnitude, continued in the region.
The earthquake’s impact highlighted the immediate challenges of providing shelter, medical assistance, and support for those affected, emphasizing the need for swift and coordinated relief efforts in the aftermath of such natural disasters.
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