5.6-magnitude earthquake jolts Gansu Province in northwest China
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Longxi County in Gansu’s Dingxi City early Saturday. No casualties were reported, though rural houses were damaged. Rescue teams and emergency responses have been activated nationwide.
Lanzhou: A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck Longxi County in Dingxi City, northwest China’s Gansu Province, at 5:49 a.m. on Saturday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC).
The epicentre was located at 34.91 degrees north latitude and 104.58 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 10 km.
The quake was strongly felt in Longxi, Zhangxian, Weiyuan, and Lintao counties in Dingxi City, as well as Wushan County in Tianshui City. No casualties have been reported so far, though some rural houses in Longxi sustained damage.
Rescue and emergency response
Local firefighting and rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected areas. The China Earthquake Administration launched a level-III emergency service response, calling for strengthened monitoring and regular updates.
Meanwhile, the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management initiated a level-IV emergency response, sending a work team to support local relief operations.
According to officials, national comprehensive fire and rescue teams have already reached the epicentre. Additionally, 200 rescuers with 28 vehicles, along with 26 personnel from specialised rescue units with seven vehicles, are en route.
Seismic context
China frequently experiences earthquakes due to the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This process, active for 50–60 million years, formed the Himalayas and continues to create immense stress in the Earth’s crust.