The Jishishan County in Gansu Province, China, is located in a mountainous area, with a population of 239,390 residents as of 2020. It is considered to be the poorest and most ethnically diverse county in China. It is bordered by the Yellow River and Qinghai province.
The county experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 – 6.2 and a depth of 10 kilometers, around midnight on Monday (December 18) in sub-zero conditions (-13C), causing severe infrastructural damages and injuries.
According to reports, more than 100 people have died and 5,000 homes have been completely destroyed, with over 700 people injured. Emergency rescue teams have been dispatched to the affected areas to carry out search and rescue operations and minimize casualties. Xinjiang province west of Gansu, also experienced a 5.5 magnitude earthquake, but no immediate reports of casualties. The report further states that this is the country’s deadliest earthquake in 13 years.
