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China Earthquake: Death toll climbs to 131 as rescue operation continues

The Tibet-Himalayan region, which borders Qinghai province, is prone to frequent earthquakes as a result of continental plate tectonics. As of now, 4,298 people have been evacuated and 74 individuals have been saved, according to China's Ministry of Emergency Management

Ajeyo Basu December 20, 2023 17:41:23 IST

The earthquake on Monday night was the deadliest to strike China since one in 2014 that left 617 people dead in Yunnan province Image Courtesy AFP

Around 131 people have been killed as a result of the strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked a hilly area of northwest China late on Monday night. The biggest earthquake in nine years claimed 113 lives in Gansu, while the adjoining Himalayan province of Qinghai saw an increase in fatalities from 14 to 18 on Tuesday. 16 people are still missing after the devastating tremor.

In two provinces, there were almost seven thousand injuries.

The Tibet-Himalayan region, which borders Qinghai province, is prone to frequent earthquakes as a result of continental plate tectonics. As of now, 4,298 people have been evacuated and 74 individuals have been saved, according to China’s Ministry of Emergency Management. It was also mentioned that a property valued at more than 15.3 million yuan (about $2.16 million) was also saved.

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The focal depth of the Monday night earthquake, which struck Gansu and Qinghai provinces at 11:59 p.m., was 10 kilometres, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre. About 8 kilometres separate the epicentre of the earthquake—Liugou Township—from Jishishan Bao’an, Dongxiang, Sala autonomous county’s county seat in Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture in Gansu.

The ministry reports that 2,042 firefighters and more than 736 rescuers from central enterprises’ projects in surrounding areas have been dispatched to the earthquake-affected area.

The third batch of relief supplies, which includes 2,000 cotton tents, 5,000 rollaway beds, 5,000 overcoats, and 10,000 quilts, has been assigned to Gansu, according to the ministry. More relief supplies are reportedly on the way.

According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, 1,33,500 relief supplies have been transported to Gansu and the nearby province of Qinghai to help with the basic requirements of individuals impacted by the earthquake.

All rural highways connecting areas severely damaged by the earthquake are now open for traffic.

Relief workers, supplies, and cars can reach the disaster-affected areas without difficulty thanks to the flawless operation of all the motorways as well as the national and provincial trunk roads in Gansu and Qinghai, according to the Ministry of Transport.

Additionally, attempts have been made to restore power in areas affected by earthquakes.

As of Tuesday at 6:30 p.m., all of the damaged major power grid circuits in the earthquake-affected region of Jishishan County have been restored, according to authorities.

The National Energy Administration stated that the county’s location in Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture has resumed power service to all users.

As of 7:21 p.m., the State Grid Qinghai Electric Power Company said that the power supply to customers in Qinghai who were impacted by the earthquake had also been entirely restored.

The earthquake on Monday night was the deadliest to strike China since one in 2014 that left 617 people dead in Yunnan province.

(With agency inputs)