The earthquakes, measuring 5.7, 5.8 and 5.0 in magnitude, caused damage to homes, roads and infrastructure in seven towns in Qinghai province
SANTO DOMINGO – While Japan grapples with the aftermath of a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake, another seismic emergency has the Asian continent on high alert. In less than five hours, three earthquakes of magnitude greater than 5.0 struck the Xinghai district in China's Qinghai province on Tuesday , causing material damage in several communities and triggering national disaster response protocols.
According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the first earthquake occurred at 11:16 a.m. (Beijing time) with a magnitude of 5.7 and a depth of 10 kilometers. Just 18 minutes later, a second earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.8, shook the same area, while a third tremor, with a magnitude of 5.0, was recorded at 4:04 p.m., also at a depth of 10 kilometers.
According to the official Xinhua, the three tremors occurred in the Xinghai district, part of the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a mountainous region in northwest China with low population density and frequent seismic activity.
There are no reported deaths or injuries
As of the latest update released by Xinhua, no deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the seismic sequence.
According to local authorities, quoted by the Chinese state news agency, the earthquakes caused varying degrees of damage to homes, roads, and public infrastructure in seven municipalities, and technical inspections are ongoing to determine the extent of the damage.
Initial assessments indicate that the communities closest to the epicenter were Duoba, in Wenquan municipality, and Marimao, in Longzang, where emergency brigades are gathering information on structural damage.
China activates emergency response
According to ABC, the Xinghai district government established a temporary command center and activated Level III emergency response, mobilizing personnel to the affected localities to check for potential damage and ensure the safety of residents.
Additionally, the China Earthquake Administration deployed specialized teams to the epicenter area to support assessment efforts and maintain continuous monitoring of seismic activity, while minor aftershocks continue to be recorded.
A region accustomed to seismic activity
Qinghai province, located in western China, is situated over an area of intense tectonic activity and experiences earthquakes relatively frequently.
According to Infobae, the tremors were felt even in the neighboring province of Gansu, where residents shared images of lamps and buildings swaying during the shaking. State television CCTV also broadcast videos showing dust storms in mountainous areas following the earthquakes.
Chinese authorities are continuing inspections in the affected communities and monitoring seismic activity to determine if further preventative measures will be necessary.
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