As a strong earthquake of 6.2 magnitude jolted China's Gansu-Qinghai border region on Tuesday, at least 126 people have been killed so far while over 700 have been injured, as per reports by China's state media.
According to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the magnitude of the earthquake was recorded at magnitude 6.1 while the Chinese state media stated the quake was registered at 6.2 magnitude.
Th earthquake struck at a time when the region has been grappling with biting cold with the mercury standing at about minus 14 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning.
About the earthquake
According to EMSC, the quake occurred at a depth of 35 km with its epicentre 102 km west-southwest of Gansu's provincial capital city, Lanzhou. State media reports also mentioned that significantly strong tremors were felt in many parts of Qinghai province as well.
Preliminary analysis of the quake indicates a thrust-type rupture, one of three above magnitude 6 to have struck within 200km of the epicentre since 1900.
The quake leaves trail of destruction
The 6.2 magnitude midnight quake has damaged 6,381 houses. So far 32 aftershocks were recorded, with the largest registering a magnitude of 4.0, as per local reports.
The quake has destroyed some rural roads, leading to power outages and telecommunication failures. The maintenance crew has been working overnight to repair the damaged infrastructure.
Several villages suffered power failures and disruption of water.
The Ministry of Transport, which monitors the operation of roads, said on Tuesday morning that a bridge across the Yellow River had cracked because of the quake.
The provincial fire and rescue department sent 580 rescuers aided with 88 fire engines, 12 search and rescue dogs, and more than 10,000 sets of equipment to the disaster area.
Rescue and relief work underway
In light of the current situation, the state government has mobilised rescue and relief work. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang have ordered all-out rescue efforts to minimise casualties after the earthquake. Xi asked local authorities to rescue and treat the injured people promptly, and closely monitor the earthquake situation and weather changes to prevent secondary disasters.
In a bid to assess the impact of the catastrophe, a working group has been dispatched and to provide guidance for local relief operations.China's national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief and Ministry of Emergency Management have activated a level-IV disaster relief emergency.
Some water, electricity, transportation, communications and other infrastructure have been damaged but officials provided no further details.
The railway authority has suspended passenger and cargo trains passing through the quake zone and ordered a safety check of railway tracks.
