At least 111 people are dead after a strong earthquake struck a remote corner of China, according to Chinese media reports on Tuesday.
Another 230 people were injured, houses and roads were damaged and power and communications were knocked out in parts of the northwestern provinces of Gansu and Qinghai. Water supplies were also disrupted and an unknown number of people were missing.
The quake happened 6 miles below ground just before midnight Monday, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The epicenter was about 800 miles southwest of Beijing. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the earthquake’s magnitude at 5.9, while Chinese media placed it at 6.2.
The original quake was followed by nine aftershocks of 3.0 magnitude and up by Tuesday morning, and two of them were above 4.0, BBC News reported. China’s national disaster agency and Ministry of Emergency Management activated a level-IV disaster-relief emergency.
Rescue teams were sent to assist in the emergency response. That included about 2,200 first responders from the provincial fire department and forest brigade, along professional emergency rescue teams and military and police, according to Reuters. Rescuers could be seen on footage from the region combing through rubble and debris from collapsed buildings, seeking survivors.
“All efforts should be made to carry out search and rescue, treat the injured in a timely manner, and minimize casualties,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a statement, according to BBC News.
Western China sees its fair share of earthquakes, situated as it is in the mountainous area arising from the Tibetan plateau’s eastern edge. The quake occurred in a high-altitude region amid cold weather with temperatures as low as 7 degrees Fahrenheit.
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