5.2-Magnitude Earthquake in Guangxi, China Kills 2

(Central News Agency, Reporter Liao Wen-chi, Shanghai, 18th) A 5.2-magnitude earthquake occurred in Guangxi, China, early this morning. As of 11 a.m., the earthquake has resulted in 2 deaths, and all missing persons have been rescued. At least 13 houses have collapsed. Tremors were felt in Liuzhou, Guilin, and even Hong Kong. According to comprehensive reports from CCTV News, People's Daily, and The Paper, the China Earthquake Networks Center determined that a 5.2-magnitude earthquake occurred in Liunan District, Liuzhou City, Guangxi, at 12:21 a.m. on the 18th, with a focal depth of 8 kilometers. As of 4 a.m. on the 18th, 13 houses had collapsed, 4 people were sent to the hospital, none with life-threatening injuries, and more than 7,000 people were evacuated. Communication, power, water, gas, and transportation in the affected area are operating normally. At 8:14 a.m. today, rescue teams found and rescued two trapped individuals at the disaster site in Taiyangcun Community, Taiyangcun Town, Liunan District. They were confirmed to have no vital signs by medical personnel. At 11:10 a.m., the last trapped person, a 91-year-old, was rescued. Medical personnel confirmed that their vital signs were stable and they were sent to the hospital for treatment. According to the catalog of the China Earthquake Networks Center, a total of 5 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or higher have occurred within 200 kilometers of the epicenter in the past 5 years, with this being the largest. Tremors were felt in the urban areas of Liuzhou, Guilin, Guigang, Wuzhou, Hechi, Nanning, and Laibin. Hong Kong's HK01 reported that the Hong Kong Observatory received reports from more than 10 citizens who felt the earthquake, with the shaking lasting for several seconds. After the earthquake, the Liuzhou Earthquake Relief Headquarters initiated an emergency response, coordinating emergency, fire, and public security departments to carry out search and rescue and mass evacuation work. A comprehensive grid-style inspection of the safety of buildings, water and power systems, traffic arteries, bridges, mines, and geological hazard points in the jurisdiction was launched. The Office of the State Council Earthquake Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management have activated a national Level-IV emergency response for earthquake disasters and dispatched a working group to the area to guide relief efforts. (Editor: Chen Kai-yu) 1150518