In pictures: China earthquakes hit Gansu province
- Published
Two powerful earthquakes have struck China's north-west Gansu province, killing dozens of people and leaving hundreds more injured. Many have been left homeless.
Thousands of houses have been damaged, with many collapsing completely. Some areas had power cuts or disrupted mobile communications, the country's earthquake administration said.
More than 500 soldiers have been deployed to help with the rescue efforts, state media say. They are searching for survivors trapped under the rubble.
Much of the area affected is rural farmland. Mudslides and landslides are reportedly making the rescue efforts difficult in places.
The first earthquake that hit near Dingxi city had a magnitude of 5.98 and was shallow, the US Geological Survey said.
A second quake with a magnitude of 5.6 hit the same area just over an hour later.
Many villagers have gone to local hospitals for treatment.
Makeshift medical centres have been set up in the street to care for the injured.
The Dingxi government said the earthquake has caused a direct economic loss of 198m yuan ($32m; £21m).
- 22 July 2013
- 6 January
