5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Guangxi in South China Leaving Two Dead

A powerful 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck south China's Guangxi region early Monday morning, leaving at least two people dead and triggering the urgent evacuation of thousands of residents. 

The seismic activity centered near Liuzhou city at approximately 12:21 AM local time, catching many residents asleep as buildings shook violently. Local emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the worst-hit zones as state media outlets confirmed extensive structural damage across the affected community. 

The impact of the 5.2-magnitude earthquake was felt heavily across local residential areas, resulting in the total collapse of at least 13 buildings. State broadcaster CCTV identified the deceased victims as a married couple, a 63-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, who were caught in the wreckage of their home. 

Emergency teams, utilizing trained search dogs and heavy earthmovers, scoured the fields of debris through the morning hours. Thankfully, their efforts led to the successful rescue of a missing 91-year-old man, who was extracted from the rubble alive and in stable condition.

 

In response to the structural hazards and threat of aftershocks, authorities successfully evacuated over 7,000 residents from high-risk zones into temporary shelters. 

While essential communication, power, and water supply networks remained largely functional, local railway officials suspended or delayed several train services around Liuzhou to inspect the integrity of the tracks. 

Though natural disasters of this type are less frequent in southern China compared to the mountainous western provinces, this 5.2-magnitude earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to sudden seismic shifts.

AFP