Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes Guangxi, China... More Than 7,000 Evacuated

[Financial News] Channel News Asia (CNA) reported, citing local media, that a magnitude 5.2 earthquake hit the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwestern China on the 18th, killing two people in Liuzhou and forcing more than 7,000 residents to evacuate.
According to CCTV and Xinhua News Agency, two people have died, one person remains missing, and four others were taken to hospital. The injured are said to be in stable condition and not in life-threatening danger.
CCTV reported that the victims were identified as a 63-year-old man and his 53-year-old wife. Search and rescue operations are continuing to locate the missing person.
The earthquake caused 13 buildings to collapse in the early morning hours. CCTV showed residents rushing out of high-rise buildings and piles of debris beside collapsed homes, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
At the scene, rescue workers wearing helmets are using excavators and other heavy equipment to clear debris. Local media said rescue dogs have also been deployed and are searching through the rubble for signs of survivors.
Local railway authorities began inspecting the safety of tracks and other rail infrastructure immediately after the quake, warning that train services and other transportation will likely face disruptions for some time.
State media added that communications, power, water, gas supplies, and road traffic in the affected area are currently operating normally.


jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-joon Reporter