2023-12-18 23:23:44
(Beijing) More than 100 people were killed in an overnight earthquake in northwest China’s Gansu province, state media reported Tuesday.
Published at 6:23 p.m. Updated at 7:39 p.m.
Dozens of others were injured in the province in the powerful quake, state broadcaster CCTV reported, citing the provincial earthquake relief headquarters.
According to CCTV, 11 people were also killed and more than 100 injured in the city of Haidong in neighboring Qinghai province.
The earthquake, measuring 5.9 magnitude according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), caused significant damage; houses collapsed, forcing residents to flee into the streets. the state agency New China said.
Rescue operations were underway Tuesday morning, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in search and rescue operations.
The earthquake occurred in Gansu province, near the border with Qinghai province.
Videos posted on social networks show destroyed ceilings and rubble.
The water and electricity supply was interrupted in some villages, according to the Chine Nouvelle agency.
Shallow depth
Authorities sent emergency relief personnel to the area immediately following the earthquake, and provincial leaders were also on their way, the agency reported.
The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers at 11:59 p.m. local time Monday (10:59 a.m. Eastern), according to the USGS, which downgraded the magnitude following initially announcing 6.0.
According to the USGS, the earthquake occurred regarding 100 kilometers southwest of Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu province, and was followed by several smaller followingshocks.
Earthquakes are relatively common in China.
In August, a 5.4 magnitude earthquake in eastern China injured 23 people and destroyed dozens of buildings.
In September 2022, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan province caused the death of 100 people.
A 7.9 magnitude earthquake in 2008 left more than 87,000 people dead or missing, including 5,335 schoolchildren.
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