The earthquake that hit northwest China has raised the confirmed death toll to 111. The update comes from China Central Television and reflects the ongoing assessment of the disaster in affected areas.
Initial figures indicated that 100 people died in Gansu province while 11 perished in Qinghai province. Reported damage encompassed critical infrastructure including water supply, electricity, transportation networks, and communications services, alongside other facilities essential for daily life and emergency response.
Earlier statements had estimated casualties higher than 230, prompting swift leadership actions. President Xi Jinping ordered intensified search and rescue operations to reach those trapped and to mitigate the broader impact of the quake. The leadership emphasized coordinated efforts to save lives and restore services in the affected regions.
The national response stepped up to a four level scale, with the second level activated during the immediate aftermath. This level triggers enhanced coordination among provincial authorities, emergency services, and civilian relief agencies to organize resources and provide timely aid to communities in need.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake was recorded near the Jishishan Baoan Dongxiang Salar Autonomous Region as the local night fell in Beijing time. Seismic data indicate the quake originated about 10 kilometers underground, a depth that often results in strong ground shaking across a broad area. In response, authorities mobilized a large rescue force, deploying thousands of personnel including firefighters and specialized responders to reach impacted neighborhoods and remote communities. Immediate priorities focused on locating survivors, delivering medical care, and restoring critical services to reduce further risk.
In nearby regions, contemporaneous reports described another seismic event associated with a magnitude of 5.6 in India, underscoring that earthquakes can affect multiple areas with varying intensity in close temporal proximity. The broader regional context has prompted ongoing monitoring and readiness measures across neighboring zones to address potential aftershocks and evolving needs of affected populations. [Attribution: China Central Television and regional disaster management authorities]