In the remote villages of northwest China, rescuers diligently sifted through the debris of collapsed homes amidst freezing temperatures following the nation's most fatal earthquake in recent years, claiming the lives of a minimum of 127 individuals. Reports from state media indicated that the shallow tremor resulted in at least 113 fatalities and over 530 injuries in the impoverished Gansu province by Tuesday afternoon.
In the neighbouring Qinghai province, specifically in Haidong, an additional 14 people lost their lives while 198 suffered injuries, as reported by a state-run newspaper. The earthquake wreaked havoc, damaging over 155,000 structures, as highlighted by state broadcaster CCTV, prompting frightened residents to flee to the icy streets in search of safety.
At a village near the epicentre, media reporters saw huge cracks running through the exterior and interior walls of a brick home, and the roof of a building that had caved in completely.
"I am 70 and I have never experienced such a powerful quake in my life," resident Ma Wenchang told the media.
Deadliest in years
The recent earthquake marked China's deadliest since 2014, surpassing the tragic toll of over 600 lives lost in the southwestern Yunnan province. China's western regions often bear the consequences of frequent seismic activity. Notably, in 2008, a massive quake in Sichuan province claimed the lives of more than 87,000 individuals, including 5,335 schoolchildren. According to the US Geological Survey, the shallow-depth magnitude-5.9 earthquake struck at 11:59 pm local time (1559 GMT) on Monday night. The epicentre was approximately 100 kilometres (60 miles) away from Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu.