By Tsering Dhundup
DHARAMSHALA, Dec 20: A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck Gansu and Tsongon (Ch.Qinghai) provinces of Tibet on Monday, claiming the lives of at least 131 dead, 980 injured. The quake, which occurred just before midnight at 11:59 p.m. (1559 GMT) in Jishishan county, inhabited by mostly Muslim people, had a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). Notably, both Gansu and Qinghai provinces, both Chinese government designates following the occupation of Tibet, encompass substantial portions of the Amdo province of Tibet. The nearest Tibetan city to the epicentre is Rebkong in Amdo region.
The seismic activity also affected the north-eastern boundary of the tectonically active Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, where strong tremors were felt. In the aftermath, over 155,000 homes in the region suffered varying degrees of damage, reports say.
In Gansu Province, 113 people have been found dead as of 9 a.m. on Wednesday (0100 GMT), and 782 were injured, authorities said. The death toll in neighbouring Qinghai Province rose to 18 with 198 injured as of 5:30 a.m. The calamity struck a high-altitude region with cold temperatures, posing challenges to rescue missions and increasing risks for trapped victims due to harsh weather conditions.
According to Chinese state run Xinhua news agency, rescue teams are vigilant against secondary disasters resulting from factors beyond the quake, with temperatures plummeting to minus 14 degrees Celsius (6.8 Fahrenheit) in Linxia, Gansu. These challenging weather conditions are expected to reduce the typical 72-hour window for rescue operations, intensifying the threat to survivors.
The quake caused significant damage to essential infrastructures related to supply of water, electricity, transportation, and communications networks. Several highways and rural roads suffered destruction from multiple landslides. A major hydropower dam situated 50 km from the epicentre remained operational and unaffected.
The Gansu earthquake administration noted multiple subsequent tremors, with the most significant registering a magnitude of 6.2. 140 aftershocks were recorded, with the largest measuring 4.1 in magnitude, further unsettling the affected region.
In response to the disaster, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed condolences to China and offered her government’s help after the earthquake, despite the tensions between the two countries. “We pray that all those affected receive the aid they need, and we hope for a swift recovery. Taiwan stands ready to offer assistance in the disaster response effort,” she said.
