On Monday, a powerful earthquake in China jolted the southeastern region and triggered landslides in mountainous areas. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Luding County in Sichuan province, sitting on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau. In addition, the earthquake shook buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu, where 21 million people are already on COVID-19 lockdown.
The earthquake in China killed 65 people and injured hundreds of people. Furthermore, 16 people are reported missing. According to reports, 50,000 people have been evacuated from Ganzi and Ya’an City.
According to the state’s news report, the province has deployed 6,500 rescuers, 4 helicopters, and 2 unmanned aerial vehicles to the frontline. Furthermore, the provincial government allocated 50 million Yuan to Ganzi for relief and rescue.
After the earthquake in China, Sichuan alerted highest level of emergency.
After a powerful earthquake of 6.8 magnitude hit Sichuan, it activated the highest level of emergency. So far, 50,000 people have been rescued and moved to safer locations. Wang Feng, Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Emergency Management Department, informed the media that 16 people were missing and over 50 injured as of Monday night.
From the team of rescuers, one of the rescuers said multiple roads blocked due to several aftershocks. “We had to climb over the debris to get to the town square of Moxi.”
Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Emergency Management earmarked 50 million Yuan to support the rescue and relief work. The relief supply includes 3,000 tents and 10,000 folding beds allocated to Luding County, where the epicentre of the earthquake is located.
The authorities reported stones and soil falling from mountains were causing damage to homes and interfering with the power supply. Furthermore, the ministry of Emergency Management said one landslide blocked a rural highway with rocks. Building in Chengdu too, felt the tremors of the earthquake.
China has its plate full of lockdown, drought, earthquakes.
China is surrounded by a heat wave and a drought that’s led to water scarcity. China is also facing power cuts due to Sichuan’s reliance on hydropower. The earthquake in China comes on top of the latest major lockdown under China’s strict “zero-COVID” policy.
