Earthquake in China - Death toll risen
The death toll from the earthquake in China has risen (photo: Getty Images)
The death toll from the most powerful earthquake in China in recent years has risen to 149 people. Two individuals are still considered missing following the underground tremors that occurred last week in the northwestern regions of the country, according to AP.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, the number of fatalities in Dunhuang City in Qinghai Province has increased by one to 32, and rescuers are still searching for the two missing persons. In the neighboring Gansu Province, authorities reported 117 deaths.
Primary schools in the county of Jishishan in Gansu Province resumed classes in tents on Monday, December 25. Local authorities stated that winter vacation would be utilized for repairing damaged schools and constructing temporary structures to resume regular classes in the spring semester.
The government is also working on constructing temporary housing for the affected residents who are facing sub-zero temperatures.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited several villages in Gansu and Qinghai on Saturday, urging the authorities to improve living conditions for the affected people, as reported by the official Xinhua news agency.
Li emphasized that the top priority in relief efforts is to ensure that people have warmth and safety during the winter.
Powerful earthquake in China
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake occurred on December 18 in a remote mountainous region between the Chinese provinces of Gansu and Qinghai. The tremors turned 14,000 homes into rubble and triggered severe landslides that submerged two villages in Qinghai Province.
Approximately 1,000 people were injured as a result of the earthquake, and over 87,000 individuals were displaced.
The seismic activity caused economic losses estimated in the tens of millions of dollars in agriculture and fisheries.
In August, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 struck the eastern Chinese province of Shandong. The incident resulted in the destruction of 126 buildings, and twenty-one people sustained injuries.
