BEIJING: The death from China’s earthquake in country’s northwest Gansu province northwest region has risen to 100, state media reported on Tuesday.
According to media reports another 96 were injured in the province after the strong earthquake hit the region.
While 11 people were also killed and 124 injured in the city of Haidong in the neighboring province of Qinghai.
The 5.9-magnitude earthquake caused substantial damage, including collapsed houses, and sent people running into the street while the rescue work was ongoing.
China’s national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief and Ministry of Emergency Management have declared a level-IV disaster relief emergency.
According to local authorities a work team has been dispatched to the affected areas to evaluate the impact of the disaster and to provide guidance for local relief operations.
Water and electricity supplies were disrupted in some local villages of the quake hit areas.
Earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 Km
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles) at 11:59 pm local time Monday (1559 GMT).
The quake occurred at 35.743 degrees north latitude and 102.827 degrees east longitude, 100 kilometers southwest of Gansu province’s capital, Lanzhou, and was followed by aftershocks.
Earthquakes are quite uncommon in China. In August, a 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern China, injuring 23 people.
According to experts Aftershocks can occur for days. An aftershock is usually a smaller earthquake that follows a larger one in the same area.
