A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rattled southwest China on Wednesday, resulting in at least four fatalities and fourteen injuries. Early reports indicate search and rescue teams are continuing to work as efforts to account for missing residents unfold. The quake struck yesterday at 17:00 local time (09:00 GMT) at a depth of about 17 kilometers in Lushan County, part of Ya’an city in Sichuan province. Official outlets identified Baoxing County as the location where most deaths and injuries occurred, underscoring the impact on nearby communities [Xinhua News Agency].
In the immediate aftermath, roughly 300 residents sought shelter in a district stadium that had been converted into a temporary refuge. Damaged housing and other structures were observed across the affected area. Shelters have been established across Baoshan and Lushan districts to provide care for the elderly, children, women and students as authorities coordinate relief efforts [Xinhua News Agency].
More than 4,500 personnel from the military, emergency services, police, fire departments, and medical teams have been mobilized to the affected zones. Their tasks include searching for the injured, repairing essential infrastructure, and relocating residents displaced by the quake. Local authorities report a rapid mobilization to support affected communities and maintain public safety amid ongoing recovery operations [Xinhua News Agency].
The southwest region of China sits in a seismically active belt where tremors have repeatedly caused significant damage and loss of life. The 2013 quake in Lushan County was a magnitude 7 event that claimed 193 lives and injured about 12,200 people, underscoring the recurring risk posed by seismic activity in this area [Xinhua News Agency].