May 22, 2021 - World

3 dead, more than 30 injured after 2 earthquakes hit China

Oriana González

Picture of Chinese rescuers wearing orange uniforms building blue tents — Firefighters set up temporary tents for people displaced by an overnight earthquake in China. Photo: STR/AFP via Getty Images

At least three people died and another 36 people are injured after two separate earthquakes hit China on early Saturday, AP reports.

The state of play: The first earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1 and hit southern China, in the Yunnan province. Hours later, approximately 620 miles north, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit central China in Qinghai province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The first earthquake left at least three people dead and 28 injured. No deaths have been reported in Qinghai province, but at least eight people have been injured, AP notes.
While both earthquakes in relatively quick succession, the events do not appear to be related, per USGS. The agency expects the quakes will trigger aftershocks, but will decrease over time.
Work teams have been dispatched to the impacted areas "to check the disaster situation and direct rescue work and disaster relief," Chinese newspaper the People's Daily writes.

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3 dead, more than 30 injured after 2 earthquakes hit China

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