Rescuers in isolated communities in northwest China on Tuesday excavated the debris of toppled houses following the country’s biggest earthquake in years, which left at least 118 people dead and hundreds more injured.
In the poor region of Gansu, authorities reported that as of Tuesday morning, the shallow earthquake that occurred shortly before midnight had killed at least 105 people and injured over 400 more.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, in the neighboring province of Qinghai, in the city of Haidong, there were an additional 13 deaths, 182 injuries, and 20 unaccounted for cases.
Thousands of homes, many of which were dilapidated brick buildings, were damaged by the earthquake, and many of the people fled into the icy streets in search of shelter.
“I was almost scared to death. Look at how my hands and legs are shaking,” said a woman of about 30 in a video posted to a social media account associated with the state-run People’s Daily newspaper.
“As soon as I ran out of the house, the earth on the mountain gave way, thudding on the roof,” she said as she sat swaddled in a blanket outside, cradling a baby.
CCTV footage showed belongings from a family scattered among the brickwork of a house that had collapsed during the tremor.
China’s deadliest earthquake since at least 2014 occurred in the southwestern region of Yunnan, when over 600 people perished.
The western hinterland of China is scarred by periodic seismic activity; in 2008, a massive earthquake in Sichuan province claimed the lives of over 87,000 people, including 5,335 kids.
According to the US Geological Survey, the magnitude 5.9 earthquake that occurred on Monday night occurred at a shallow depth around 11:59 p.m. local time (1559 GMT), with an epicenter located about 60 miles (or 100 kilometers) from Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu.
According to China’s official news agency Xinhua, the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.2 and was felt as far away as the major city of Xi’an, which is located roughly 570 kilometers (350 miles) away.
Following dozens of lesser aftershocks, authorities issued a warning that earthquakes larger than 5.0 magnitude might occur throughout the next few days.
On Tuesday morning, an earthquake with a USGS magnitude of 5.2 was felt in the Xinjiang region, further to the northwest.
Freezing Temperatures
As search and rescue operations got underway early on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts.”
According to CCTV, he stated that rescuers should be alert for any secondary disasters because the high-altitude area has temperatures below freezing.
During a press briefing on Tuesday morning, provincial officials reported that the Gansu earthquake had caused damage to approximately 5,000 dwellings.
According to state media, areas near the epicentre had disruptions in their water and power supply, but later saw some restoration of energy.
CCTV footage from one of the hardest-hit areas showed locals setting up tents while they warmed themselves over a fire.
More than 1,400 firefighters and rescue workers, according to CCTV, had been dispatched to the disaster area, while a further 1,600 people were “on standby.”
The broadcaster added that supplies were also being sent to the area, including blankets, stoves, drinking water, and quick noodles.
The statement further stated that in order to “guarantee the security of people’s lives and property, and minimise the impact of losses from the disaster,” the central government had temporarily diverted 200 million yuan ($28 million) in relief assistance.
Emergency cars were captured on camera approaching the scene while traveling down highways covered in snow and flashing their lights.
In some photos, the overalls-clad rescue personnel were seen standing shoulder to shoulder in the vehicles, while in other others, they were arranged in lines to await orders.
In other clips, emergency workers could be seen deploying orange stretchers for the victims as they combed through wreckage by torchlight.
According to officials, hundreds of residents in Gansu have been evacuated.
There are often earthquakes in China. A shallow 5.4-magnitude earthquake that occurred in August inflicted 23 injuries and caused the collapse of numerous buildings in the eastern portion of the nation.
In September 2022, a 6.6-magnitude quake hit Sichuan province leaving almost 100 dead.
And in 2010, a 6.9-magnitude quake in Qinghai left 3,000 people dead or missing.