BEIJING: Rescuers in remote villages of northwest China are tirelessly sifting through the wreckage of collapsed homes in freezing conditions after a devastating earthquake hit northwest China, killing over 127 people, foreign news agency reported.

More than 700 have been reported injured, in the quake that struck just before midnight. The shocks rattled impoverished Gansu province, causing at least 113 fatalities and leaving over 155,000 buildings damaged.

State-run newspaper the People’s Daily reported an additional 14 deaths and 198 injuries in Haidong, neighbouring Qinghai province. The devastation prompted residents to flee into the freezing streets for safety as emergency vehicles filled the roads.

The quake’s impact is evident in crumbling structures, including a mosque with a collapsed top and a building reduced to rubble. The quake, measuring 5.9 in magnitude according to the US Geological Survey, is the deadliest in China since 2014.

The western hinterland, prone to seismic activity, faced a quake in Sichuan province in 2008, which claimed more than 87,000 lives. Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” in search and rescue operations, acknowledging the challenging high-altitude conditions.

As rescue teams confront freezing temperatures, President Xi urged vigilance against secondary disasters. Power and water supplies were disrupted in villages, but some electricity has been restored.

Evacuations are underway in Gansu, with thousands of firefighters and rescue personnel deployed to the disaster zone. Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his condolences, expressing solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.

As China grapples with the aftermath, efforts focus on ensuring the security of lives and property, with relief funding of 200 million yuan ($28 million) preliminarily allocated by the central government.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 20 2023

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