In a devastating natural disaster, northwest China is grappling with the aftermath of the deadliest earthquake the country has experienced in 13 years. At least 126 people have lost their lives, and over 700 are reported injured after the earthquake, measuring 6.2 in magnitude, struck mountainous Gansu province at midnight on Monday. The quake also affected the neighbouring Qinghai region.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has deployed thousands of rescue personnel to the affected area, one of China’s poorest and most diverse regions. The earthquake caused widespread destruction, splitting entire villages, collapsing buildings, and leaving residents in icy conditions as temperatures dropped to -13°C (8.7°F) on Tuesday.
Survivors described the tremors as feeling like “being tossed by surging waves,” prompting many to evacuate their homes. State TV and social media shared footage of damaged buildings, collapsed houses, and residents huddled around makeshift fires at evacuation camps.
Jishishan county in Gansu province was the worst-hit area, with local officials reporting damage to more than 5,000 buildings. Poor building quality, particularly in old clay homes, is cited as a significant factor contributing to the extensive damage.
Gansu, situated between the Tibetan and Loess plateaus and bordering Mongolia, is one of China’s poorest and most ethnically diverse regions. The quake’s epicentre 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 10km (6 miles). Multiple aftershocks have occurred, adding to the challenges faced by rescue efforts.
Power and water supplies have been disrupted across the region, hampering rescue operations. With limited time left to rescue people in sub-zero conditions, officials express concerns that casualties could rise further.
Wang Yi, chief commander of the Blue Sky Rescue Team, China’s largest non-governmental humanitarian organization, anticipates an increase in casualties. “We now need to dig deeper [into the rubble], but there are no big buildings in the area. So it will rise, but it won’t be much,” he said.
President Xi Jinping emphasized that “all efforts should be made to carry out search and rescue, treat the injured in a timely manner, and minimize casualties.” China, located in a seismically active region, has experienced devastating earthquakes in the past, including the 2010 quake in Yushu, Qinghai province, which claimed almost 2,700 lives.