A devastating earthquake, registering 6.2 on the Richter scale, struck Gansu province in China, resulting in at least 111 fatalities, as reported by authorities on Tuesday. The China Earthquake Networks Center noted the quake's occurrence at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, with a focal depth of 10 km. The epicenter, Liugou Township, lies 8 km from the county seat of Jishishan Bao'an. The impact extended to Xining and Haidong in Qinghai, causing house collapses. Rescue efforts, involving 580 responders, 88 fire engines, and search and rescue dogs, are underway, with the railway suspended for safety checks. President Xi Jinping called for extensive rescue operations to minimize casualties. Gansu, a poverty-stricken region, frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location between the Tibetan and Loess plateaus. China's susceptibility to earthquakes, evident in historical events, emphasizes the urgency of comprehensive disaster response.
Key Points:
1. A massive earthquake, registering 6.2 on the Richter scale, struck China's Gansu province, resulting in at least 111 casualties.
2. The China Earthquake Networks Center reported that the quake occurred at 11.59 p.m. on Monday, with a focal depth of 10 km.
3. The epicenter, Liugou Township, is approximately 8 km from Jishishan Bao'an, Dongxiang, Salar Autonomous County in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu.
4. The quake also strongly affected Xining and Haidong in Qinghai, causing house collapses and cracks.
5. Fatalities were reported in both Gansu and neighboring Qinghai, prompting a swift response from the provincial fire and rescue department.
6. To aid in the rescue efforts, 580 rescuers with 88 fire engines, 12 search and rescue dogs, and over 10,000 sets of equipment were dispatched to the disaster area.
7. Passenger and cargo trains passing through the quake zone were suspended, and safety checks for tracks were ordered by the railway authority.
8. In Dahejia Township, where temperatures dropped to 16 degrees Celsius below zero, more than 140 medical staff worked tirelessly to care for the injured.
9. President Xi Jinping issued a statement directing full rescue efforts to Gansu, emphasizing the importance of search and rescue, timely medical treatment, and minimizing casualties.
10. Gansu, characterized as one of China's poorest regions, lies between the Tibetan and Loess plateaus, bordering Mongolia, and is prone to earthquakes due to its location where several tectonic plates meet. Notably, the 1920 earthquake in Gansu, which claimed over 200,000 lives, is recorded as one of the world's deadliest in the 20th century.
(With Agency Inputs)
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