China earthquake: Death toll goes up to 149 as rescue efforts continue

With two persons still unaccounted for, the dead toll from the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that rocked northwest China earlier this week has increased to 149. The earthquake happened at midnight on December 18 at a depth of 10 km, making it the worst to strike the area in nine years. Last Saturday, a massive earthquake that caused extensive damage and fatalities struck Jishishan County in Gansu Province and Minhe County in nearby Qinghai Province. According to the Qinghai Emergency Management Department, two persons are still unaccounted for and the death toll in Qinghai Province has increased to 32. The department claimed that the search for the two missing persons was still ongoing. In Gansu Province, there were 781 injuries and 117 fatalities. There were about 200 injuries from the Qinghai earthquake. During a visit to the earthquake-affected districts on Saturday, Chinese Premier Li Qing ordered the rescue and relief teams to ensure that people survive the winter in safety. About 500 patients have received treatment and been released from the hospital thus far; 282 patients are still receiving care. Official media sources state that 69 of them are seriously injured and 17 are in critical condition. According to state-run Xinhua, China’s National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) has sent 1,335 pieces of cold protection supplies and communication equipment as well as other disaster relief supplies to Gansu and Qinghai. Classes in Jishishan County, Gansu Province, northwest China, began back up on Monday, according to a report by state-run CGTN TV. The earthquake was the deadliest to strike China since one in Yunnan province in 2014 claimed 617 lives. (With agency inputs)