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20-12-2023, 07:55 PM
Rescue efforts for survivors of an earthquake that killed at least 131 in China's north-west are coming to an end.
Authorities on Wednesday said they were wrapping up operations and would now focus on treating the injured and helping those who lost their homes.
The 6.2 magnitude quake hit Gansu province Monday night, injuring nearly 1,000 in the mountainous region.
Thousands of workers have been operating in sub-zero temperatures.
Temperatures hit -13C (8.7F) on Tuesday, Chinese media reported. Large parts of northern China are caught in a cold snap, with many cities reporting record low temperatures.
Sixteen people remain missing in neighbouring Qinghai province, to the south of Gansu.
Local officials in Jishishan county, the worst-hit in Gansu province, said more than 5,000 buildings in the area had been damaged.
Many other buildings in the province were hit by mudslides triggered by the quake, while roads were damaged by landslides.
Pictures from the region showed entire villages split by the quake, as well as collapsed buildings and houses.
Residents who fled their homes were also shown huddling over makeshift fires at hastily erected evacuation camps.
Survivors said the tremors had felt like "being tossed by surging waves" and recalled rushing out of their apartments.
"I woke my family up and we rushed down all 16 floors in one breath," said one man named Mr Qin by Chinese outlets.
Monday's quake was reported as China's deadliest earthquake since 2014, when more than 600 people were killed by a quake in south-western Yunnan province.
Authorities on Wednesday said they were wrapping up operations and would now focus on treating the injured and helping those who lost their homes.
The 6.2 magnitude quake hit Gansu province Monday night, injuring nearly 1,000 in the mountainous region.
Thousands of workers have been operating in sub-zero temperatures.
Temperatures hit -13C (8.7F) on Tuesday, Chinese media reported. Large parts of northern China are caught in a cold snap, with many cities reporting record low temperatures.
Sixteen people remain missing in neighbouring Qinghai province, to the south of Gansu.
Local officials in Jishishan county, the worst-hit in Gansu province, said more than 5,000 buildings in the area had been damaged.
Many other buildings in the province were hit by mudslides triggered by the quake, while roads were damaged by landslides.
Pictures from the region showed entire villages split by the quake, as well as collapsed buildings and houses.
Residents who fled their homes were also shown huddling over makeshift fires at hastily erected evacuation camps.
Survivors said the tremors had felt like "being tossed by surging waves" and recalled rushing out of their apartments.
"I woke my family up and we rushed down all 16 floors in one breath," said one man named Mr Qin by Chinese outlets.
Monday's quake was reported as China's deadliest earthquake since 2014, when more than 600 people were killed by a quake in south-western Yunnan province.
