111 more dead in strong earthquake China
Beijing: At least 111 people were killed when an earthquake collapsed buildings in northwest China, state media reported Tuesday, as rescue workers raced to start digging through rubble.
About 100 were killed and scores more injured in Gansu province after the strong, shallow tremor struck, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing the provincial earthquake relief headquarters.
According to CCTV, 11 others were killed and 100 injured in the city of Haidong in the neighbouring province of Qinghai.
The quake caused significant damage, including collapsed houses, and sent people running into the street for safety, state news agency Xinhua said.
Rescue work was under way early Tuesday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in the search and relief work as well as ensuring the safety of the survivors and their property.
Xinhua reported the quake — which was felt in Xi’an in northern Shaanxi province, some 570 kilometres (350 miles) away — as magnitude 6.2.
State media Global Times reported Chinese President Xi Jinping issued important instructions regarding the earthquake, demanding full-scale search and rescue efforts, proper resettlement of affected people, and maximum efforts to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.
China earthquake causes severe damages
The earthquake caused severe damage, including collapsed houses, and sent people running into the street for safety, the news agency said. Rescue work was underway early on Tuesday.
The earthquake, which was logged as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey and magnitude 6.2 by Xinhua, struck in Gansu province near the border with Qinghai province, where Haidong is located.
Inuput from Agence France-Presse and other news agencies.
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