A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Haixi prefecture in Qinghai province in northwest China on Tuesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center, with news agency Reuters reporting at least one dead and four injured in the incident. The quake hit at 5:06 pm local time (0906 GMT) at a shallow depth of 10 km, prompting an emergency response from authorities.
Chinese state media, citing emergency authorities, said at least one person was killed and four others were injured in the earthquake. Rescue teams were dispatched to the affected area to search for people who may be trapped and assess the risk of secondary disasters.
Authorities also evacuated workers from coal mines near the epicentre as a precaution, while officials continued to evaluate the extent of casualties and property damage. China’s earthquake administration activated an emergency response mechanism following the tremor.
The earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring magnitude 4.9, according to Reuters.
The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) assigned the quake a score of 2 based on its ShakeMap model, indicating a relatively limited overall impact. Preliminary estimates showed that around 8,660 people were exposed to shaking of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) VII or higher, a level capable of causing moderate damage to vulnerable structures.
Authorities are continuing damage assessments and monitoring conditions in the affected region as rescue and response operations remain underway.
