Northwest China Shaken by 6.2-Magnitude Midnight Earthquake: 116 Dead, Nearly 400 Injured
In a devastating turn of events, a powerful 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked a remote mountainous region in northwest China just before midnight, resulting in the loss of at least 116 lives and leaving nearly 400 others injured. The local earthquake relief headquarters reported the grim toll on Tuesday, revealing the aftermath of the seismic activity that unfolded in Gansu and Qinghai provinces.
The China Earthquake Networks Centre recorded the shallow quake, which struck at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, with a focal depth of 10 kilometers. The epicenter was identified in Liugou township, situated approximately 8 kilometers from the county seat of Jishishan Bao'an, Dongxiang, Sala autonomous county in Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture in Gansu. Experts emphasize that shallow quakes of this nature often result in significant damage to infrastructure.
Qinghai province, adjacent to the earthquake-affected region, lies in close proximity to the Tibet Himalayan region, known for its susceptibility to frequent seismic activity due to the shifting of continental plates. Adding to the crisis, a second quake struck the neighboring Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region hours later on Tuesday.
The Atux City of Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang experienced the earthquake at 9:46 a.m. local time on Tuesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. The epicenter, with a depth of 10 km, was monitored at 40.02 degrees north latitude and 77.86 degrees east longitude. A total of 105 casualties were reported in Gansu, with an additional 11 fatalities in Qinghai, while 397 people were reported injured across the affected areas.
The quake's destructive force left 6,381 houses damaged in Jishishan, and the region has been hit by 32 aftershocks, the largest registering a magnitude of 4.0, as reported by Han Shujun, a spokesperson for the provincial emergency management department. The aftermath included disruptions to rural roads, power outages, and telecommunication failures.
The Ministry of Transport noted the cracking of a bridge across the Yellow River due to the quake, and local meteorological authorities predicted a daily low temperature of minus 10 degrees Celsius in Jishishan. Responding to the crisis, the provincial fire and rescue department dispatched 580 rescuers, 88 fire engines, 12 search and rescue dogs, and more than 10,000 sets of equipment to aid in the disaster area.
In response to the calamity, the railway authority has suspended passenger and cargo trains passing through the quake zone, ordering a safety check of railway tracks. Gansu's ruling Communist Party chief, Hu Changsheng, and Governor Ren Zhenhe have personally led rescue and relief efforts on the ground.
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang have issued orders for all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties. President Xi emphasized the importance of prompt rescue and treatment for the injured, urging authorities to closely monitor the earthquake situation and weather changes to prevent secondary disasters. The nation now faces a critical period of recovery as it grapples with the aftermath of this natural disaster.
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