Liuzhou: A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwestern China early this morning, resulting in at least two fatalities and prompting the evacuation of more than 7,000 residents.
According to Thai News Agency, the earthquake's epicenter was located in Liuzhou city and occurred shortly after midnight local time. The tremors led to the destruction of at least 15 houses, with two people confirmed dead and one person missing. Additionally, four individuals sustained life-threatening injuries and were taken to a hospital. The seismic activity was felt across several cities in Guangxi province, including Nanning and Guilin.
Chinese railway officials have cautioned about potential delays and disruptions in the transportation system as comprehensive structural safety inspections of the railway lines are conducted. Despite the quake's impact, communication systems, power lines, water supply, natural gas systems, and traffic in the affected areas continue to operate normally, as reported by CCTV.
In response to the earthquake, the Guangxi Regional Earthquake Disaster Relief Command has elevated its disaster response level to level 3. Concurrently, China's Ministry of Emergency Management has declared a level 4 emergency and has dispatched a specialized team to the region to assist with relief efforts. Over 300 personnel, including medical staff, firefighters, and police officers, along with 50 rescue vehicles, have been deployed. To expedite the search and rescue operations, life detection equipment, drones, and rescue dogs are being utilized to locate missing persons and those potentially trapped under debris.