The death toll resulting from China's most potent earthquake in years has now reached 149, with two individuals still unaccounted for following the seismic event that struck northwestern regions of the country last week.
The quake, measuring 6.2 in magnitude, impacted a secluded mountainous region between Gansu and Qinghai provinces on December 18. The aftermath included the destruction of homes, triggering substantial mudslides that engulfed two villages in Qinghai province.
As of Monday, state broadcaster CCTV reported an increase in the death toll in Donghai city, Qinghai, by one, reaching 32, while rescuers continued efforts to locate two missing individuals. In the neighboring Gansu province, authorities reported 117 fatalities.
The earthquake resulted in nearly 1,000 injuries and the destruction of over 14,000 homes, marking China's most lethal earthquake in nine years.
In response to the disaster, primary schools in Jishishan County, Gansu, resumed classes in tents on Monday, with local authorities planning to repair damaged schools during the winter break and establish temporary structures for normal resumption of classes in the spring semester.
Efforts to provide temporary housing for survivors in freezing temperatures were expedited, with the construction of the first batch of 500 temporary housing units in Meipo village, Gansu.
Over 87,000 people have been relocated after the earthquake, which caused significant economic losses in the agricultural and fisheries industries, amounting to tens of millions of dollars.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited affected villages in Gansu and a county in Qinghai, emphasizing the improvement of living conditions for survivors as a top priority in relief efforts. Ensuring warmth and safety during winter was highlighted as a critical focus.
Funerals, following Muslim traditions prevalent in the affected area, were conducted throughout the week. The majority of earthquakes in China occur in the western part of the country, including Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces, as well as the Xinjiang region and Tibet.
China's deadliest earthquake in recent history was a 7.9-magnitude tremor in 2008, claiming nearly 90,000 lives and causing extensive damage to towns and schools in Sichuan province. This catastrophe prompted extensive reconstruction efforts, incorporating more resilient materials.
