Terrible earthquake in China, 118 dead

United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9. And China's state media Xinhua reported that the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.2.

Staff Reporter

Dec 19, 2023, 06:06 AM2 min read

Rescue workers search a house for survivors after an earthquake in Kangdiao village, Dahejia, Jishishan County, in northwest China's Gansu province on December 19. (AFP)

At least 118 people have been killed and many injured after a powerful earthquake struck northwest China. The earthquake hit the border region of Gansu and Qinghai provinces at 11:59 PM local time on Monday. Rescuers have started work to rescue those trapped under the rubble.

The European-Mediterranean Seismic Center (EMSC) said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1. The epicenter of the earthquake was 100 km from Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, at a depth of only 10 km. Although China's official channel claimed in their report, the magnitude of the tremor was 6.2.

Meanwhile, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9. And China's state media Xinhua reported that the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.2. Several aftershocks were felt after the earthquake. Several buildings collapsed in the earthquake.

According to another television channel CCTV report, 100 people have died so far in Gansu province alone, with many injured. The death toll is expected to increase. On the other hand, 18 people have died so far in Qinghai province. Hundreds injured. Rescue operations are underway in both provinces. According to local media reports, many areas have been left without electricity. President Xi Jinping ordered officials from the two provinces to reach the affected areas. He also ordered that there should be no error in the rescue work and to give our best in the care of the injured. Some videos circulating on social media showed panicked people running on the streets and looking for safe shelter. Images of the wreckage have also been seen in several videos.

Earthquakes are very common in China. A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck eastern China in August. 23 people were injured in the incident and several multistorey buildings collapsed. In 2022, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake in Sichuan Province killed nearly 100 people. In 2008, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province killed about 90,000 people. More than 5,000 of them were children. The number of injured was about four lakh.