At least 116 people were killed when an earthquake collapsed buildings in northwest China, state media reported Tuesday, as rescue workers raced to start digging through rubble.
The quake caused significant damage, including collapsed houses, and sent people running into the street for safety, state news agency Xinhua said.
Rescue work was underway early Tuesday, with Chinese President Xi Jinping calling for “all-out efforts” in the search and relief work as well as ensuring the safety of the survivors and their property.
The quake, which was logged as magnitude 5.9 by the US Geological Survey, struck in Gansu near the border with Qinghai, where Haidong is located.
That epicenter is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Gansu province’s capital, Lanzhou. Several smaller aftershocks followed the initial earthquake.
Power and water supplies were disrupted in some local villages, Xinhua said.
CCTV showed images of emergency vehicles driving towards the scene with their lights flashing along snow-lined highways.
Rescue workers dressed in overalls were pictured shoulder-to-shoulder in the trucks, while other images showed them lining up in ranks to receive instructions.
