Deadliest Earthquake in Years Claims Over 120 Lives in Gansu, China
In the wake of a powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Gansu province in north-west China, the nation is grappling with the grim reality of the deadliest seismic event since 2014. The catastrophe unfolded around midnight on Monday, affecting the mountainous Gansu province and sending tremors into neighbouring Qinghai.
As of now, the death toll stands at a devastating 127, with over 700 individuals reported injured amid icy conditions. President Xi Jinping has swiftly mobilized thousands of rescue personnel to the region, an area known for its diversity and economic challenges.
The earthquake, reminiscent of the 2014 disaster in Yunnan province, has left entire villages split, buildings and houses collapsed, and a trail of destruction in its wake. Terrifying footage broadcasted on state TV and social media platforms captured the extent of the devastation, with residents huddled around makeshift fires in hastily erected evacuation camps, battling freezing temperatures as low as -13°C (8.7°F).
At least 118 people were killed and hundreds more injured when a magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck China’s Gansu province https://t.co/OpyhTOt73i pic.twitter.com/IprMJTerDr
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 19, 2023
Survivors recounted the harrowing experience, describing the tremors as akin to “being tossed by surging waves.” One resident, Mr. Qin, shared his frantic escape, saying, “I woke my family up, and we rushed down all 16 floors in one breath.”
Jishishan county in Gansu province bore the brunt of the disaster, with officials reporting damage to more than 5,000 buildings. Mudslides triggered by the quake have affected many structures, and landslides have damaged dozens of roads. Reports suggest that poor building quality, mainly due to aging and clay-based construction, may have contributed to the extensive damage.
Gansu, situated between the Tibetan and Loess plateaus and bordering Mongolia, is one of China’s least affluent and ethnically diverse regions. The epicenter of the quake was in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, home to various Chinese Muslim groups.
Chinese authorities reported a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale, while the US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a magnitude of 5.9 with a depth of 10 km (6 miles). Approximately 10 aftershocks have been recorded, adding to the challenges faced by rescue efforts.
Across the region, power and water supplies have been disrupted, further complicating the rescue operations. In sub-zero conditions, rescue teams, including China’s largest non-governmental humanitarian organization, the Blue Sky Rescue Team, are racing against time to save lives.
President Xi Jinping emphasized, “All efforts should be made to carry out search and rescue, treat the injured in a timely manner, and minimize casualties.” The region’s vulnerability to earthquakes is underscored by its location where multiple tectonic plates, including the Eurasian, Indian, and Pacific plates, converge.
As the nation mourns the loss of lives, memories of past seismic tragedies, such as the 2010 earthquake in Yushu and the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, resurface, highlighting the ongoing challenge of managing natural disasters in this earthquake-prone region.
127 people have died in the earthquake in China’s Gansu. Soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army Western Theater Command set up mobile kitchens to provide hot food to people in earthquake-stricken areas Tuesday.
They are the people’s army. When the people are in trouble, they… pic.twitter.com/EUBslzBTqj
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) December 19, 2023