Multiple quakes shake Qinghai province

Six earthquakes struck Xinghai county, Northwest China's Qinghai province, on Tuesday, including two measuring above magnitude 5.5 on the Richter scale, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

The earthquakes occurred between 11:16 am and 5:51 pm local time. Three measured magnitude 5.0 or above, including magnitudes 5.7 and 5.8 earthquakes in the late morning, and a magnitude 5.0 earthquake in the afternoon. The other three ranged in magnitude from 3.0 to 4.0.

The strongest earthquake, measuring magnitude 5.8, occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. All six earthquakes had focal depths ranging from nine to 10 km, according to the center's official catalog.

The China News Service reported that preliminary investigations have confirmed that the earthquake caused damage to infrastructure in seven towns and affected over 400 houses. Water levels in the rivers within the earthquake zone remain stable, and rural water supply systems are operating normally. Overall, the county's reservoirs, power stations, gas stations, mines, and temples are considered safe and under control.

Following the earthquake, Xinghai county quickly established a temporary command center and initiated a Level III emergency response. Comprehensive checks on casualties and disaster assessments are being conducted in all towns. Over 600 personnel, including local officials, police, firefighters, armed police, and members of the People's Armed Forces, have been deployed to carry out emergency response operations.

As of Tuesday night, a total of 42,886 people have been relocated, and 111 shelters have been set up. There is an adequate reserve of relief supplies.

It is reported that the five counties under the jurisdiction of Hainan prefecture in Qinghai Province have dispatched personnel to the frontline in villages and communities. They are conducting thorough inspections for potential hazards at key locations and critical areas, such as hydropower stations, construction sites, tunnels, roads, reservoirs, and natural gas pipelines, to prevent secondary disasters, such as aftershocks and landslides.