Tragedy Strikes: 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake Claims 118 Lives in Northwest China

In a tragic event, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Jishishan county in northwest China’s Gansu province, leading to the loss of at least 118 lives, as reported by state media on Tuesday (Dec 19). The quake, occurring at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, caused substantial damage, including collapsed buildings, leaving 105 dead and 397 injured in Gansu, and 13 dead with 182 injured in Qinghai’s Haidong city.

Amid freezing temperatures due to a cold snap in China, rescue efforts are underway with President Xi Jinping urging “all-out efforts” for search, relief, and survivor safety. The finance and emergency management ministries allocated $27.9 million for affected provinces. Approximately 2,200 rescue personnel, including military and police, are engaged, while measures are taken to prevent secondary disasters. The aftermath, captured in footage, shows residents seeking warmth by fires as emergency services set up tents. Power and water supplies were disrupted in some areas.

The US Geological Survey recorded the quake at magnitude 5.9, felt in neighboring Qinghai province. The epicenter was near Gansu’s border with Qinghai, about 100 kilometers southwest of Lanzhou, the provincial capital. The region experienced nine aftershocks, with two above magnitude 4.0. China’s western provinces, including Gansu, are prone to earthquakes due to their location on the eastern boundary of the tectonically active Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Following the Gansu earthquake, a 5.5 magnitude quake struck Xinjiang region hours later at 9:46 am (local time), adding to the challenges faced by the affected areas.