At least 86 dead as 5.9 magnitude earthquake hits northwest China

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Beijing, China — At least 86 people were killed in an overnight earthquake in China’s northwest Gansu province, state media reported on Tuesday.

Another 96 were injured in the province after the strong, shallow earthquake struck, state news agency Xinhua said, citing the provincial earthquake relief headquarters.

According to Xinhua, nine people were also killed and 124 injured in the city of Haidong in the neighboring province of Qinghai.

READ: Ten injured, buildings collapse as 5.4 quake hits east China

The quake caused significant damage, including collapsed houses, and sent people running into the street for safety, the agency said. Rescue work was underway early Tuesday.

The quake, which was logged as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey, struck in Gansu province near the border with Qinghai province, where Haidong is located.

Xinhua reported the quake as having a magnitude 6.2.

Xinhua said power and water supplies were disrupted in some local villages.

Fallen ceilings and other debris could be seen in videos posted on social media.

READ: China earthquake death toll rises to 74

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles) at 11:59 pm local time Monday (1559 GMT), according to the USGS, which revised the magnitude downward after initially reporting 6.0.

Officials launched an emergency response and dispatched rescue personnel to the area just after the quake, and provincial leaders were also en route, Xinhua reported.

According to USGS, the quake occurred some 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Gansu province’s capital, Lanzhou, and was followed by several smaller aftershocks.

Earthquakes are not uncommon in China. In August, a shallow 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern China, injuring 23 people and collapsing dozens of buildings.