China has heightened its rescue and relief efforts in the earthquake-stricken regions of Gansu and Qinghai provinces following a devastating earthquake, with the death toll reaching 131 and over 700 reported injuries.
The 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Gansu Province on Monday, claiming 113 lives and leaving 782 individuals injured, according to officials in Jishishan county, where extensive destruction occurred.
In neighboring Qinghai Province, the earthquake caused 18 fatalities, with 16 people still missing, as per local authorities.
Reportedly, the catastrophe resulted in the collapse of 14,939 homes and damage to 207,204 others, affecting 145,736 people from 37,162 households in Gansu, as stated by the state-run Xinhua news agency.
A massive contingent of over 4,500 rescuers, comprising personnel from the provincial public security department, fire department, and military, along with more than 820 vehicles, has been deployed to scour the disaster zone for survivors.
In Qinghai Province, nestled in the hills northeast of the Tibet region, rescue teams are braving the harsh conditions to reach remote villages where people are trapped beneath the debris of collapsed structures.
Amid freezing temperatures, emotional survivors anxiously await news of their buried relatives. Wang Lyu, deputy head of China’s National Fire and Rescue Administration’s Qinghai team, expressed determination to provide hope, saying, “They will have hope for as long as we are here.”
Despite efforts to persuade them to seek shelter, some villagers in Zhongchuan village, Qinghai, chose to wait outside in the cold, hoping for updates from rescuers.
In Gansu province, emergency relief materials, including tents, quilts, and food supplies, have been urgently dispatched to aid the affected population and shield them from the severe cold.
The earthquake, with its epicenter in Liugou Township, triggered a post-earthquake geological risk assessment, halting production at mines in affected areas and evacuating nearby residents.
The local meteorological bureau forecasts sub-zero temperatures in the earthquake-hit areas, further intensifying the challenges faced by survivors.
Efforts are also underway to assess the damage to schools in Haidong, Qinghai Province, with over 50 schools reported damaged to varying degrees. Additionally, hotlines have been set up to provide psychological support, financial aid, and exam inquiries for students affected by the disaster.
