Rise and shake! At 5:49 am on Saturday, a magnitude-5.6 quake hit Longxi County in Dingxi City, northwest China's Gansu Province. The China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) recorded the epicenter at 34.91°N, 104.58°E, at a depth of 10 km—no wonder locals felt a serious jolt! 🎢
The tremors rippled across Zhangxian, Weiyuan, Lintao (all part of Dingxi), and Wushan in Tianshui. Residents reported shaking walls and wobbling floors—definitely not the kind of wake-up call anyone wants! 😰
Local authorities confirmed four people suffered minor injuries. In rural Longxi County, over 110 houses took a hit, from cracked walls to partial roof collapses. Emergency teams moved quickly to check safety and offer shelter to those in need.
So what triggers these shakes? When massive slabs, called tectonic plates, shift under the Earth's crust, they release energy in seismic waves. A 5.6 magnitude quake is moderate—strong enough to rattle buildings, but far less devastating than a major quake (7.0+). Think of it like your phone vibrating wildly… but everyone in the neighborhood feels it! 📱💥
For our South Asian and Southeast Asian readers, this event is a reminder to brush up on your earthquake game plan. Keep an emergency kit handy, secure heavy furniture, and know the safest spots at home or work. Stay alert, stay prepared, and lean on community support. 💪🌏
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
