A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck the mountainous area around Chengdu, China, the capital of Sichuan province, Monday, killing at least 65 people.
The quake struck around 1 p.m. local time at a depth of 10km, with the epicenter hitting Luding, a remote town more than 200km southwest of Chengdu in the Tibetan slopes, according to BBC. The shaking triggered landslides that damaged telecommunication lines and caused dozens of deaths. Chengdu is home to some 21 million people who had been under a COVID-19 lockdown since the previous week, the BBC continued.
More than 240 injuries were reported as of Tuesday morning, along with a slew of individuals missing, CNN noted. Power stations were also forced to shut down across many towns and cities in the province, the BBC reported.
BREAKING 🇨🇳 : A 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted #Luding County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province Monday.
♦️The tremor was felt in Chengdu, the capital of #Sichuan.
#China #EarthQuake pic.twitter.com/UsYxM4CyEw— Zaid Ahmd (@realzaidzayn) September 5, 2022
Footage from the area showed rescue workers dressed in hazmat suits and other protective gear trying to prevent residents from leaving their damaged homes, according to The Associated Press. One building manager reportedly texted all residents telling them they were not allowed to go downstairs or to run away from the quake, according to the Washington Post. (RELATED: Massive 7.0 Earthquake Hits The Philippines)
Chengdu’s health commission said Monday night that, when natural disasters strike, people’s lives and safety should be prioritized over pandemic lockdowns, the Post reported.