A devastating earthquake, measuring 6.2 in magnitude, wreaked havoc on Monday, December 18th, around midnight in the mountainous region of north western China, also affecting the neighbouring Quinghai. The earthquake claimed the lives of at least 127 people, and this number is anticipated to increase, with over 700 people severely injured in the icy conditions of the northwest area.
Situated on the borders of Mongolia and nestled between the Tibetan and Loess Plateau, the province of Gansu experienced the most severe impact, with over 100 fatalities and more than 200 injuries due to the recent earthquake. The area suffered extensive damage, with approximately 5,000 buildings affected by mudslides triggered by the earthquake, leading to simultaneous damage to roads through landslides.
While the US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake as a magnitude 5.9 event, Chinese authorities reportedly stated that it measured 6.2 on the Richter scale. Local authorities have reported approximately 10 aftershocks in the area.
Text alerts were rapidly dispatched by The China Earthquake Early Warning Network within 30 seconds of the earthquake impacting areas around the Gansu earthquake's epicenter. Individuals in the closest vicinity received these alerts within a swift 12-second timeframe.
On Tuesday, video clips were released, revealing the aftermath of the earthquake and the extensive destruction it caused. Buildings and houses were seen collapsing in multiple locations. Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued orders for thousands of rescue teams to be deployed in the region, emphasizing that all possible efforts should be exerted to provide timely treatment to the injured and minimize casualties.
After this event, the National Commission for Disaster Prevention, Reduction, and Relief, along with the Ministry of Emergency Management, has initiated a Level-IV emergency response for disaster relief.
China, particularly situated in a region where Eurasian, Indian, and Pacific tectonic plates converge is extremely prone to Earthquakes. One of the most devastating earthquakes in China occurred in the southwestern province of Sichuan in 2008, resulting in the demise of 87,000 lives.
