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WATCH moment when 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck China, killed over 118

A report by China Central Television (CCTV) said there were a total of nine aftershocks at magnitude 3.0 and above were recorded before dawn on Tuesday

FP Staff December 19, 2023 12:08:28 IST

Rescuers work on the rubble of a house that collapsed in the earthquake in Kangdiao village of Jishishan county in northwestern China’s Gansu Province Tuesday. AP.

A CCTV footage that captured the moment when a devastating 6.2-magnitude earthquake jolted China’s northwestern Gansu province, killing at least 118 and injuring almost 400 people, is going viral on social media.

According to a report by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), 11 other people were killed and more than 100 injured in the city of Haidong in the neighbouring province of Qinghai.

China earthquake video

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The CCTV camera footage shared by Global Times showed buildings shaking due to the earthquake before collapsing. People could be seen in panic, rushing out of what appeared to be their offices and shops.

The timestamp on the video showed it was 11:59 pm of 18 December, 2023. A rumbling noise could also be heard in the background of the viral video of China earthquake.

Several people rushed to the streets for safety after the massive quake struck China late on Monday.

Source: X/@globaltimesnews

The US Geological Survey recorded the quake as magnitude 5.9. The epicenter, near the Gansu-Qinghai border, is approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Gansu’s capital, Lanzhou. The region experienced several smaller aftershocks following the initial earthquake.

Source: X/@BridgingNews_

China Central Television said there were a total of nine aftershocks at magnitude 3.0 and above were recorded before dawn on Tuesday.

Some basic infrastructure such as water, electricity, transportation and communication have been damaged, the Chinese government informed.

Xi Jinping on China earthquake

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out efforts” in search, relief, and ensuring the safety of survivors and their property.

According to reports, the Chinese government has allocated 200 million yuan ($28.18 million) of funds to support disaster relief efforts in the earthquake-hit Gansu and Qinghai provinces.

Rescue efforts underway after earthquake in China

Rescue operations are underway as the nation grapples with the aftermath. Workers raced to start digging through rubble in freezing conditions.

Images and videos, shared online after the earthquake, showed the outside view of the building with the debris and walls of the room cracked up due to the impact of the tremors.

China Central Television report mentioned that tents, folding beds and quilts were being sent to the disaster area. It also quoted Xi calling for an all-out search and rescue effort to minimise the casualties. The overnight minimum temperature in the area was minus 15 to minus 9 degrees Celsius (5 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit), the China Meteorological Administration said.

At least 4,000 firefighters, soldiers and police officers were dispatched in the rescue effort, and the People’s Liberation Army Western Theatre set up a command post to direct its work. People have been requested to avoid going to the quake-hit areas to prevent traffic jams that could hinder the rescue effort.

With inputs from agencies