RESIDENTS in Gansu province are still reeling from the aftermath of the country’s deadliest earthquake since 2014.
Meteorological authorities in China reported a 6.2 magnitude earthquake, while the US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 5.9 with a depth of 10km.
President Xi Jinping deployed thousands of rescue teams to the impoverished region amid fears the death toll could still increase in the coming days.
The freezing conditions and treacherous terrains delay rescue efforts along with the disruption of power and water supplies.
The earthquake was strong enough to destroy villages and reduce buildings into rubble while survivors are struggling to cope with sub-zero temperatures in makeshift evacuation camps.
Hundreds of medics as well as thousands of firefighters, police officers, and soldiers are helping with the rescue efforts.
The earthquake has damaged 207,204 houses as of Tuesday.
China is vulnerable to earthquakes as the country is located in an area surrounded by active tectonic plates while Gansu is one of China’s poorest and most ethnically diverse regions.
