Strong and shallow M6.2 earthquake hits Gansu-Qinghai border region, China

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.9 hit the Gansu-Qinghai border region, China at 15:59 UTC (23:59 LT) on December 18, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.0 at a depth of 11 km (6.8 miles). China Earthquake Administration is reporting the quake as M6.2.

The epicenter was located in Jishishan county, Gansu Province, about 36.6 km (22.7 miles) WNW of Linxia Chengguanzhen (population 274 466), 65.7 km (40.9 miles) NNE of Labuleng (population 22 970), 91.1 km (56.6 miles) SSE of Nianbo (population 260 184), and 97.3 km (60.4 miles) WSW of Lanzhou (population 3 000 000), China.

117 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 158 000 strong, 939 000 moderate, and 10 045 000 light.

The USGS issued a Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and Red alert for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of China. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block and unreinforced brick with mud construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

At least 116 people were killed and hundreds more injured after an earthquake hit northwest China, state media reported Tuesday morning. Reports mention 397 injured people, of which 16 critically and 76 seriously.

More than 4 700 homes in Gansu were damaged.

More than 1 600 firefighters have been deployed.

The quake has cut off water and electricity supply as well as mobile signals in some areas, complicating rescue efforts. However, the biggest challenge to rescue efforts are below-freezing temperatures.

Regional seismicity

Multimedia

Some local houses collapsed and rescue work is in progress. https://t.co/b6U9pOFNSi pic.twitter.com/XqvxZu24WU

— Jim yang (@yangyubin1998) December 18, 2023

Un fuerte #sismo de magnitud 6 sacudió la región fronteriza de Gansu-Qinghai en #China 🇨🇳 #earthquake
📹 @cocochen2022 pic.twitter.com/ujfZFaaPgU

— Centinela35 (@Centinela_35) December 18, 2023

Updates

19:00 UTC, December 19

Half of one village in Minhe County was engulfed in mud, killing 19 people. The village is located about 10 km (6.2 miles) from the epicenter.

In the Gansu earthquake, severe soil liquefaction occurred in Minhe County, more than 10 kilometers away from the epicenter. Half of the village was engulfed in mud, and 19 people were killed. @JudithGeology pic.twitter.com/ybDmgNpbBC

— Jim yang (@yangyubin1998) December 19, 2023

As of 18:00 UTC on December 19, the earthquake’s death toll has exceeded 120, with over 700 people injured. Authorities expect fatalities to rise as the extent of the damage becomes clearer.

Over 5 000 buildings have been impacted by the quake, many of which were struck by subsequent mudslides, and numerous roads have suffered damage due to landslides.

The widespread destruction has been partly attributed by local media to the poor quality of building construction in the affected villages, with many homes being older structures made of clay.

Search and rescue operations are currently underway, with teams facing harsh conditions as temperatures plummeted to -13 °C (8.7 °F) on Tuesday.

11:00 UTC, December 22

The number of fatalities has risen to 144, with over 14 000 homes reported destroyed. State media reports that hundreds of temporary one-room housing units were established yesterday.

Rescue efforts continue as teams navigate through heavy mudslides that have engulfed two villages in Qinghai province, leaving three people still missing.

Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google