A moderate earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale struck northwest China's Gansu Province early Saturday morning, causing minor injuries and structural damage. The tremor occurred at 5:49 a.m. local time with its epicenter in Longxi County, Dingxi City, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
The quake, which originated at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, was strongly felt across five counties in Dingxi and Tianshui cities. Local authorities confirmed four people sustained minor injuries while more than 110 rural houses sustained damage in Longxi County alone.
Emergency response teams have been deployed to assess infrastructure stability and assist affected residents. Gansu Province, located along the seismically active northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has implemented strict building codes in recent years that likely prevented more severe casualties.
As one of China's key renewable energy hubs and agricultural regions, Gansu's disaster preparedness measures remain under scrutiny by regional development analysts. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in balancing rural infrastructure development with geological risks in Asia's mountainous regions.
