Bitter cold in China's earthquake zone - death toll rises to over 130
According to the state news agency Xinhua, almost a thousand people suffered injuries. Tens of thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged.
The search for possible survivors has now been suspended, a representative of the Gansu disaster control authority said on Wednesday. The main task now is to treat the injured and find accommodation for the residents who have been left homeless.
Near the epicenter in the Jishishan district of Gansu, numerous survivors spent the night on Wednesday in tents improvised from wooden poles and tarpaulins, reported an AFP reporter. The only source of warmth in temperatures as low as minus 17 degrees were outdoor stoves and blankets that people were able to fetch from their destroyed homes.
Rescue teams unloaded large bundles of relief supplies and more tents. "There are eight of us in our family, but we were only given three portions of instant noodles," complained one affected person.
According to Chinese data, the quake had a magnitude of 6.2, the US earthquake monitoring system USGS gave it as 5.9. The epicenter was around 100 kilometers southwest of Gansu's provincial capital Lanzhou and around 1300 kilometers southwest of the capital Beijing. The authorities warned that further tremors with a magnitude of more than 5.0 were possible in the coming days.
The quake was the deadliest in China since 2014, when more than 600 people died in the southwestern province of Yunnan. The People's Republic is repeatedly shaken by earthquakes, some of which are devastating. In 2008, a 7.9-magnitude quake in Sichuan province killed more than 87,000 people. In September 2022, almost a hundred people died in an earthquake, also in Sichuan.
ans/yb
Read also:
- This will change in December
- Attacks on ships in the Red Sea: shipping companies avoid important trade route
- Houthi rebels want to launch further attacks despite international coalition
- USA forms military coalition against Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
The bitter cold in the earthquake zone is making survival difficult for many, as evidenced by the residents huddling around outdoor stoves and using blankets from their destroyed homes. This is a situation faced in many earthquake-prone areas of China, such as the one affected in Gansu.
CCTV, China's state television broadcasting network, covered the aftermath of the Cold earthquake, providing live updates and interviews with affected residents.
The disaster control authority in Gansu reported that the death toll has reached over 130, with almost a thousand people injured. Gansu, located in China's northwestern region, is known for its harsh winters, making the situation even more dire.
payments for damages and loss of property are being discussed between the affected individuals and the local government, as the recovery process begins in the quake zone.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9, slightly lower than the 6.2 reported by Xinhua, China's state news agency.
The earthquake zone in Gansu is marked by a stark contrast, with relief supplies being unloaded and tents being set up just feet away from heavily damaged and destroyed buildings.
The earthquake, one of the deadliest in China in recent years, has brought the attention of the international community, with countries offering assistance and condolences to China.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited the earthquake zone on Thursday and promised to provide necessary aid and resources to support the affected communities in their recovery.
In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its gratitude to countries and international organizations that have offered help and support in the aftermath of the Cold earthquake.
Source: www.stern.de
