A powerful earthquake has occurred in China: over 100 dead, hundreds injured
An earthquake has resulted in at least 116 fatalities and over 400 injuries in northwestern China.
The earthquake struck around midnight in Gansu province, causing casualties there and also affecting the neighboring Qinghai province, as reported by Reuters.
Buildings and infrastructure in both provinces have suffered damage. In Gansu province alone, approximately five thousand houses were destroyed. Certain areas are facing disruptions in power and water supply. Approximately 1,500 firefighters and rescuers have been mobilized to the disaster area.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for a large-scale search operation to minimize the number of victims.
According to the US Geological Survey, the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.9, with an epicenter depth of 10 kilometers.
China is located in a region where several tectonic plates converge, including the Eurasian, Indian, and Pacific plates, making it particularly prone to earthquakes.
One of the most devastating earthquakes in recent years in China occurred in May 2008 in Sichuan Province, where more than 87,000 people lost their lives.