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Icy conditions shortening rescue window
State outlet China News network is reporting lines from rescue teams in Jishishan County.
They’re quoting Shi Wanjin, a captain of the Gansu Houtian Emergency Rescue Corps,as saying that some people have already been rescued but the window is closing in the bitterly cold temperatures.
“The golden rescue time of this earthquake will be shortened” he said, adding that it was due to the scale of the quake and the low temperatures. Most of the roads across the country are covered in ice and snow.
Taiwan president offers aid
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has expressed condolences to China on the Gansu earthquake.
The island’s presidential office added that Taiwan is willing to provide assistance to China.
Taiwan often experiences earthquakes and other natural disasters. Earlier this year, it deployed search and rescue teams to Turkey after a deadly quake.
Rescue efforts carried out in sub-zero temperatures
It’s Tuesday morning now in Jishishan, and as we reported earlier, thousands of rescue workers are working in sub-zero temperatures.
Firefighters, soldiers and police are searching for survivors as the temperature hits -13C (8.6F), even as authorities warned that more aftershocks may occur.
Temperatures have plunged to well below freezing across northern China, as a cold snap gripped many parts of the country.
Shanxi, Hebei and Liaoning provinces have all been gripped by record low temperatures, state media reported.
Death toll from Gansu quake hits 116 – authorities
The death toll from the Gansu earthquake has increased to 116, according to local authorities.
State media reported that 105 died in Gansu, with 11 deaths in neighbouring Qinghai province.
Officials in Jishishan county, the epicentre of the quake, said at a press conference on Tuesday morning that some 186 people have been injured, with 4,782 houses damaged.
Thousands of rescue workers have been deployed. Officials asked the public not to approach the disaster scene, so as to leave roads clear for rescue teams.
Authorities also warned that more aftershocks may occur, after 10 aftershocks were recorded in the quake-prone Tibetan Plateau.