Deaths, Missing Persons, and Freezing Cold
More than 120 people have died in a severe earthquake in northwest China. The search for survivors is still ongoing, but temperatures have dropped even further after sunset.
The death toll from the powerful earthquake in China has risen to at least 126, according to state media. Over 500 people have been reported injured.
With the onset of darkness, temperatures in the earthquake-stricken region in northwest China have dropped significantly below freezing. This further diminishes the chances of finding buried survivors. Last night, temperatures reached as low as minus twelve degrees Celsius, forcing people to endure the frigid cold outdoors and rely on open fires for warmth.
Rescue and search operations continue
Many people are still missing. State television shows rescuers using excavators and shovels to search for survivors in the rubble and setting up tents. Thousands of rescue personnel are involved in the efforts. According to state media, drinking water, blankets, stoves, and food have been brought to the region.
Reports indicate that roads have also been damaged, power outages have occurred in several areas, and water supplies have been disrupted. According to state media, thousands of additional helpers are on their way to the mountainous earthquake-stricken region. The authorities have declared a state of emergency.
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake
“We have brought four mobile hospitals here,” says Li Jijun, a medical staff member on site, in an interview with the state broadcaster CCTV. In addition, a mobile operating room is being set up. Special vehicles for electricity and water supply, X-ray machines, and a mobile laboratory are also available. The first responders are preparing for operations.
According to the spokesperson for emergency management in Gansu, Han Shujun, the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.2 and occurred at a depth of ten kilometers. The most significant damage has been reported in Jishishan County, located approximately 100 kilometers southwest of the city of Lanzhou in Gansu Province. The earthquake was also felt in parts of neighboring Qinghai Province.
Improved disaster management
This earthquake is the deadliest in many years. The western parts of China, including the Tibetan Plateau, frequently experience earthquakes. The most severe earthquake in China in recent decades took place in 2008 in Sichuan Province. According to official data, around 70,000 people lost their lives, with 18,000 people still missing. The authorities faced severe criticism at the time.
Today, China’s disaster management is considered to be significantly improved. Construction standards are strictly controlled, particularly for buildings such as schools, which collapsed during the 2008 earthquake due to the use of substandard materials.