China 5.2 quake kills 2 in region

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Liunan district in Liuzhou, in China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, at 0:21 a.m. on Monday, killing two people and displacing more than 7,000 residents, according to Chinese state media and local authorities. The China Earthquake Networks Center said the quake hit at a depth of 8 kilometers. By 4 a.m., 13 buildings had collapsed in the affected area, while communications, power, water, gas supply and roads remained operational, state media reports said. Rescue crews from emergency management, police and fire departments were sent to the site, and national authorities activated an emergency response. ### Where did the earthquake hit? Liunan district in Liuzhou was the epicenter area of the quake, with the epicenter located in Taiyangcun town, about 16 kilometers from downtown Liuzhou, according to the Guangxi Earthquake Administration. Tremors were felt across Liuzhou and in other Guangxi cities including Guigang, Wuzhou, Hechi and Nanning, China Daily reported. The China Earthquake Networks Center put the magnitude at 5.2 and the depth at 8 kilometers. ### What is known about the casualties? Local earthquake relief headquarters said two people were confirmed dead after being pulled from the disaster site. Global Times, citing Xinhua and local authorities, said the victims were a 63-year-old man and his 53-year-old wife. China Daily reported earlier on Monday that three people were missing and four others had been hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. Later reports said one 91-year-old resident was rescued and taken to a hospital in stable condition, while one person remained missing. ### How extensive was the damage? As of 4 a.m., 13 buildings had collapsed in the quake-hit zones and more than 7,000 residents had been relocated, according to China Daily and other state-backed reports. Basic public services were still functioning, with communications, electricity, water, gas and road transport operating normally, according to reports citing local authorities. State media did not immediately provide a wider tally of structural damage beyond the collapsed buildings. ### What did authorities do after the quake? The office of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level IV emergency response on Monday and sent a work team to the affected area, according to Global Times and China Daily. The China Earthquake Administration also launched a Level III emergency response, Global Times reported. Local authorities were instructed to verify casualties and damage, organize search and rescue, evacuate residents and monitor aftershocks. ### Who is carrying out the rescue work? A total of 51 fire and rescue vehicles and 315 personnel were dispatched to the quake-hit area, Global Times reported, citing CCTV News. Video published by local fire and rescue authorities showed crews using life detectors, search dogs, drones and heavy machinery. Residents also moved into open areas after the quake. Global Times cited a local resident surnamed Liu as saying the shaking woke her while she was asleep. ### What happens next? Monday’s next steps were centered on finding the remaining missing person, checking damaged structures and tracking aftershocks. A special national working group was due to guide on-site rescue and post-quake relief work in Liuzhou, according to China Daily. Local authorities said casualty verification and safety inspections of buildings, transport links, bridges, mines and potential geological hazard sites were continuing on May 18.