At least 127 people have been killed in an earthquake in a mountainous region of northwestern China, officials said this week.
According to NBC News, many people are still trapped or buried under rubble in the area.
The magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck Jishishan County in Gansu province overnight. The tremors lasted about 20 seconds.
Nine aftershocks with magnitude 3.0 or higher were recorded as of 10 a.m. (9 p.m. ET Monday), Gao Xiaoming, deputy director of the Earthquake Administration of Gansu, said in a news conference.
“The earthquake was too intense,” said Wang Xi, a student from Lanzhou University, who posted images showing people hastily leaving their dormitories, The Associated Press reported. “My legs went weak, especially when we ran downstairs.”
Quake-affected people in China's Qinghai Province settled in shelters#Qinghai #Earthquake #China
— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) December 20, 2023
The local authorities have arranged safe and warm shelters for the quake-affected villagers in Zhongchuan Township, northwest China's Qinghai Province, 15 kilometers away from the… pic.twitter.com/AMM3PZ62Wl
Rescuers deployed more than 4,000 firefighters, soldiers, and police officers to the areas to try to help.
According to Reuters, roads, power and water lines, and agricultural production facilities were damaged in the event, and the quake triggered land and mudslides.
In Gansu, more than 207,000 homes were damaged, and nearly 15,000 collapsed, affecting more than 145,000 people.
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck northwest China, killing 126 people and leaving hundreds of others injured, Chinese state media says.
— VICE News (@VICENews) December 20, 2023
A video shared on Chinese media site Weibo shows a building shaking and debris flying on the evening of Dec. 18. pic.twitter.com/4Gx91NBDPd
Meanwhile, rescuers and survivors faced the destruction in frigid temperatures. On Tuesday night, the temperature in Gansu was about 5 degrees.
According to the Xinhua news agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for an “all-out” effort to save people. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force will be helping with relief efforts.
Du Haiyi said his family home had been destroyed, but he saved his mother and sister.
"My parents were pulled out from underneath this, but I don't know how," Du said. "We ran to wherever we could."
The ministries of finance and emergency management also earmarked 200 million yuan ($28 million) to the two provinces to “assist local efforts in earthquake relief.”
Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/Steve Collender
Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
